Tormentor

While attempting to conjure,

scribble an impromptu,

greasy poem,

the Old Geezer 

snatched my pen

right under this crooked nose. 

“Go buy me some beer heathen,”

the Old Geezer barked.

“Why can’t you?” I said.

“Boy, what’d you say?”

My toenails tossed, turned,

and twitched.

“I mean, why do I have to go?

Is it really a necessity?”

“Boy, I’m crippled, with carpal tunnel,

a dislocated shoulder, hemorrhoids and

one busted kneecap. Not to mention, I pay

the rent, utilities, and put a roof over your head,”

the old geezer growled. 

“I don’t feel like it,” I complained.

“Boy, if you don’t go, I’ll have you 

evicted and thrown out on the streets.

Don’t test me. Go get me my beers!”

The Old Geezer had a point. I couldn’t 

argue with that equivocal, primitive logic.

“Fine,” I said.

I tossed the lipstick-stained poem onto the 

floor, put on a fresh pair of undies, sour

socks, creased sweatpants, greasy jacket, 

and grabbed my keys.

that’s just the way it is…

ABOUT

Chris Mardiroussian is a lecturer in the Department of English at California State University, Long Beach. His most recent book is a full-length collection of poetry entitled BLUNDER DOWN UNDER, which Chasing Shadows Magazine called, “A stark and raw style of writing that clearly constitutes the life of a typical miscreant.” In 2019, he won First Prize in the Cinema Italian Style Film Festival (sponsored by the prestigious American Cinematheque in Los Angeles) for his short film entitled IL BREAKUP, which he co-wrote and produced. In 2017, he co-wrote a collection of poetry entitled HONESTY. LOVES. CRUELTY. He has also worked on several independent films such as Friends in High Places (2021), nominated for Mexico City’s International Film Festival, The First Color (2020), won the Disability Issues Award, and The Ties that Bind Us (2019), won the Gold Award for Independent Shorts. His work has appeared in Bloom Magazine, BOMBFIRE, Ice Lolly Review, Maythorn Magazine, Perfumed Pages, Pomona Valley Review, Soul Talk Magazine, and elsewhere. He lives in Los Angeles, CA. You can find him on Instagram.