Bethany Powell

Avoiding the Issue

A kappa's in the dumpster—
ugly green face leering
at me and my burnable trash.
Sticky-handed, looking for sake bottles.

A thousand things bloom, chrysanthemum,
in my mind, to say, like
"Get a job and you could buy some"
and "You! Get out of the garbage!"

But I just back away softly.
I'll come back when he's not here.

Bethany Powell spent her teen years in Japan, only to be exiled to Oklahoma for unknown crimes. She protests by writing poetry set in both places. In her free time, she is a fiber artist, fashion blogger, and Asian TV fangirl. Stalk any of these pursuits starting at BethanyPowell.com