Slim to None

I couldn't sleep

so
I scrambled some eggs

and bought a lottery ticket

the odds were 1 in 575,757

I thought of you
at work

another 10 hr shift

and the cats

they slept well
in the sun

while little kids
screamed their idiot screams

Last night
you came to bed
and told me I had 20 minutes

when we finished I told you
I used 19 minutes 30 seconds

and we laughed
and you fell asleep
and I read a short story
about a tiger
and drank
watery gin

$12.94 in our bank account

1 in 575,757

you never believe me

when I tell you you're beautiful

so I will tell you

575,757 times

© 2013 Lee Kitzis

The Bell

They’ve placed a servant’s bell
at the liquor loft register

if a customer shows up
and we’re not there
they simply have to ring the bell
to get our attention

they placed it there

then they went downstairs
and upstairs

they went far away from the bell

while it rang
and rang

for six dollar pints of vodka

while it rang
and rang

for chew and lottery tickets

while it rang and rang

on our ears

and on the deaf

© 2011 Lee Kitzis

Lottery Tickets and Fake Shits

The speakers
blare 90s hits about
soaking up the sun
and living in the sun

I check losing lottery tickets
and fill the cooler
while outside young money
slips on ice

it's a kind of paradise

I ask my boss for a bathroom break

she scowls and says "go ahead"

I sit in the stall
and plan my next move

a long sigh
then I flush for appearances

when I get back
there's a man standing at the register
he has a dirty White Sox hoodie on
and bedhead hair

he gives me his instant win ticket

"I know I keep getting taken," he says

"but I just keep playing."

NOT A WINNER
the screen flashes

I tear up his ticket
he thanks me
and walks away

off into the ice

off into paradise

thinking
one day
maybe

© 2011 Lee Kitzis

Winners

They flock to the lottery counter at Jewel

Sweat stained instant win tickets
cracked like a parched desert floor

The geriatrics in kitten sweaters

the bed-headed Indians
with tired eyes

reeking of B.O.

worse than the homeless

those who haven’t been spit out

waiting
in the mouth of the lion

buying the scam

fuuuuck
they say

give me three more Diamond Dazzlers

then they walk outside

sit on the bench

light a cigarette
and scratch

while the jaw tightens

and the tongue works its magic

© 2010 Lee Kitzis