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But I don’t. by Jonathan S Baker

Michele McDannold — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 11:30:11 +0000

But I don’t. Sometimes I forget its been one year 8 months 28 days (give or take) and as I’m going home, I do turn on that signal nearly pull in the liquor store lot almost walk straight to the cooler and grab a drink or two because I’m thirsty and I want to feel …

Fallen for You by Westley Heine

Michele McDannold — Wed, 08 Apr 2026 11:08:35 +0000

Fallen for You I’m always surprised when people like me. Can’t they see through me? Can’t they see the constant demons I swat away like flies? When I introduce people to my ghosts, some shutter. Others, stop liking me, and instead they love me. For they know what I know. They have seen what I’ve …

THE POLISH HAMMER POETRY CORNER: Back to Fighting Ninjas Again by Karl Koweski

Michele McDannold — Tue, 07 Apr 2026 11:40:49 +0000

Back to Fighting Ninjas Again When I think about myself, as a mildly neurotic, self-obsessed, self-analytical writer of confessional poems and columns sometimes must, and I think of all the amazing feats I’ve accomplished even though I was born without hair, my mind becomes a carnival, a lovefest, a celebration of all things Polish Hammer. …

Harry Threatens To Kill Me In The Law Library by Mark James Andrews

Michele McDannold — Mon, 06 Apr 2026 11:36:25 +0000

Harry Threatens To Kill Me In The Law Library Mike Harry was inmate number 3861977 a double amputee from the infirmary unit. He was wheeled into the jail law library Deputy Venus Spivey pushing his chair. Harry’s upper body looked like he pumped iron. Little Venus had got herself a boob job. Both were short …

Having the Last Word by Jonathan Hayes

Michele McDannold — Sun, 05 Apr 2026 09:00:37 +0000

Having the Last Word I left the apartment building this morning to do laundry It was a typical day on Nob Hill in San Francisco with lots of wind and fog While walking back to my apartment after doing the laundry I saw Harry Denton, owner and playboy of the famous Starlight Room that towers …

Bartenders Don’t Read Nietzsche by Alan Catlin

Michele McDannold — Sat, 04 Apr 2026 09:00:15 +0000

Bartenders Don’t Read Nietzsche The short order cook dude from the joint around the block had a rep as a talker. Didn’t bother me any, when motivated, I could talk the bark off a tree, so I expected he was not much of conversational threat. I must not have been in the mood for talking …

Black Boots, Sheer Tops by Damon Hubbs

Michele McDannold — Fri, 03 Apr 2026 09:00:21 +0000

Black Boots, Sheer Tops There’s this mom at my kid’s school who really looks like she knows her way around a cock. I see her at drop off every morning. She’s a tough cookie, a dream maker. She has her hair and nails done every Friday and knows a thing or two about the heat …

she’s coming over by Richard Vargas

Michele McDannold — Thu, 02 Apr 2026 10:43:08 +0000

she’s coming over her upcoming inaugural visit to the poet cave has me looking around noticing a few minor adjustments are in order the bathroom sink is ringed with whisker-bits from a week of morning shaves and the cheap toilet paper has to be replaced with a softer and plusher brand that i can’t stand …

The Workhouse by Sofia Diana Gabel

Michele McDannold — Wed, 01 Apr 2026 11:47:38 +0000

The Workhouse The morning chime reverberated through the room. Time to get up and go to work. Every day, the same thing. Routine. Boredom. Pain. Ten seconds later came the harsh demand over the speaker, “Work or punishment.” Worker 373 slipped on her coveralls and left her room. The other workers in her sector stood …

THE POLISH HAMMER POETRY CORNER: One Flew Over the Chicken Coop by Karl Koweski

Michele McDannold — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 13:53:30 +0000

One Flew Over the Chicken Coop The world is slam dancing on the edge of the mosh pit of mass insanity, my friends. Maybe Iran is an inferno of burning oil fields. Maybe Israel is a smoking crater. Who the fuck knows, and who can you trust to tell you? I can say with certainty …