ISSUE FOUR: March, 2020

THIS GOLDEN GLOBE

January 5, 2020

Its flames kindle the red carpet
sending bursts of smoke
sexy pops of fire flash as celebrity
parades itself past
the heat and cheers now fear
as breath becomes a choke

inside conflagration swallows
the tables stilettos and beards singed
while Ricky Gervais takes a last sip
before exiting backstage

Robert De Niro sizzles as
Ellen grabs two bottles of Moët
to douse Jennifer Aniston’s back

but the image that goes viral
is Meryl Streep and Tom Hanks
beautiful but burnt
climbing over the chairs
toward Gwyneth Paltrow naked
wiping ash from false lashes
she swaddles them in her gown
and carries them to water.

Across the globe sit
impeccably groomed koalas beside
lithe kangaroos and possums
half a billion strong
under the moonlit ether
not a care in the world glad to be
what they are and where

they are safe and important
watching the cool sky glitter
this January night down under
convinced the stars burn just for them.

CANDICE KELSEY's debut book of poetry, Still I am Pushing, releases March 6th with Finishing Line Press. Her poetry has appeared in Poets Reading the News, Poet Lore, North Dakota Quarterly, and many other journals while her first micro chapbook The Pier House is forthcoming with the Origami Poetry Project. A finalist for Poetry Quarterly's Rebecca Lard Award and Honorable Mention for Common Ground's 2019 Poetry Contest, Candice’s creative nonfiction was nominated for a 2019 Pushcart Prize. She is an educator of 20 years' standing, devoted to working with young writers.