Jua Kali

Martin Abasi
our local jua kali man
built me a nanoassembler
in exchange for my Jonway.

He used pallet wood,
cord from radial tires,
ferromagnetic paste
and Burmese contraband.

It makes decent Fanta,
Mars bars,
hair relaxer
and Polish vodka.

I paid off the local muscle,
my landlord,
my coffee shop
and my ex-husband.

In a few weeks
if my luck holds
I’ll have the cash
for a new Jonway.

Image CC-BY by whiteafrican

North Pacific Gyre

When Americans die
they float on for years
in plastic bottles
far out at sea.

The bottles decay
the souls are released
eaten by albatross
strangling their young.

I found one myself
cloudy but whole
half sunken there
and poured out its ghost.

It offered one wish
I asked for reprieve
It laughed from its guts
and dove out of sight.

Image CC-BY-SA by qnr