The Many and Various Uses for Mayonnaise

Two poems by James Kelly Quigley

The Many and Various Uses for Mayonnaise

The Many and Various Uses for Mayonnaise

One little pale fresh tennis ball of rain
bounces across my forehead. Fifteen-love.

I have very bad posture. An only somewhat
inquiring mind. But they tickle me

the many and various uses for mayonnaise
considering there is only one use for poetry.

To lose money. To lose money. Toulouse Monet.
I think we just connected, you and I.

We’re inside of really quite a touching moment.
Balloons lost in the trees. Balloon fruit.


Rottenway

the rotten the rotten way you therotten
way you look in the morningthe rotten way
the bedroomrotten in the morning the rotten
bright wind the rottenbrightwind in the trees
the bright wind opens a gate in the trees

I am wide awake the rotten way you look the breath

the apple is a white dumpling the rottenway
you look in the bright wind morning opens

wide awake and whitesoft and blossomy

I close the window and really it’s a thrill

lopped off on the wet grass this bloody rose
your crown of moss your moss-wings

how dreadful to find out you’re awake
that it all carried on and without much fuss


The Lying Nude

When I say this view is bananas
you know I mean it’s gorgeous.
I tried pointing an app at all that sky.
My phone said result type: masonry.
You have a face like a face being torn to shreds.
I fucking love you so much right now
my hair hurts and there’s fancy mustard
where once upon a time I had a belly button.
When I say you you know I mean
thee. One fine meadow offers clemency.
The stubborn red tulips make keystrokes
in the paltry breeze and I think
whoever built the first arch was crazy smart.
Oh your dirty elbows. Hello.


More Like This

A Restaurant That Serves More Than a Free Meal

“The Meal Tally” from STORIES OF THE TRUE by Jeyamohan, translated and recommended by Priyamvada Ramkumar

Jul 28 - Jeyamohan

Divorce Made Me Into A One-Armed Scissor

An excerpt from SLANTING TOWARDS THE SEA by Lidija Hilje, recommended by Claire Lombardo

Jul 7 - Lidija Hilje

This Coworking Space Runs on Sisterhood and Toxic Conformity

“The Parlor,” a fiction debut by Emma Weisberg

Jul 2 - Emma Weisberg
Thank You!