five poems

Emily Liefke

looking at a photo of myself at nine months
smile spilling across my face
insanely huge eyes glowing like headlights
I like to think my heart
makes this ridiculous face
everytime I’m saved
by the beauty of the world
or the promise that you’d still go
with me to Value Village
even if you won the lottery
happily spending an hour finding
the perfect basket for my bag
of 22 plastic lemons
(marked down half price)
it doesn’t take much
to miss our lives
walk under the perfect
dog shaped cloud
never looking up
“we should be grateful.”
you say,
“Just look at that
fucking sunset….”

he settled comfortably
in the suburbs of morality
by bitter lakes of an unsized canvas
where good and bad never have features

A giant fence houses him
from wild gardens of strangers
the reckless skeleton of his youth
hangs in the wind
his bones almost musical
singing a Spanish lullaby
he used to know the words to

All of his snows melted
by the same sun
when he thinks of this
he does not sleep

his collection of books
decorate an antique dresser
his words collecting dust
on yellowing pages
silently staring out the window
waiting

“My fake flowers died
because I didn’t pretend
to water them”
Mitch Hedberg’s joke
replays in my head
while I plant yellow plastic flowers
in every room
this need to be surrounded
by my favorite color
without having to watch it fade
a continuous soft whisper
it’s not all bad
sending out search parties
for silver linings
attempting to write a hopeful poem
while the world seems too dark
to even dream in color
while streets flood with water
while news floods with war
I know there’s still beauty
I can count on
sit in. smile at.
be grateful for

If Milwaukee Took a Selfie
it wouldn’t flex
airbrush, apply filters or highlights
soften the edges, heighten the contrast
hold the camera up high to get a flattering angle of itself
crop the photo strategically so it looks skinnier than it really is
or so you can’t see the part of the landscape unworthy of a postcard.
It would stand before you stark, bold, beautiful
giving you a direct stare, eyes gleaming with excitement, mischief, mystery
while sipping on a damn good cup of coffee or beer
depending on what time it took the photo…
(unless it’s summer, then it could be anytime really, all bets are off
because, obviously, it has a festival to go to)
If Milwaukee took a selfie,
scars and flaws would be on display without apology
“Milwaukee, home of cannibal killers and Happy Days”
And an 85,000 dollar “Bronze Fonz” statue
that people either love, or really fucking hate.
It would not be a before photo, announcing it needs to start exercising
after all the beer and cheese curds
Milwaukee is aware of those problem areas
it’s working on them, it sees the potential and possibilities
but if all you focus on are the flaws (it has some)
a public education system needing serious aid and attention
colossal socioeconomic inequalities ripping and clawing it….
Milwaukee has so many areas still searching to be realized,
but if that’s ALL you see,
you’re missing the raw grittiness and beauty already shining and actualized
If Milwaukee took a selfie
It would not be an after photo showing off
a perfectly chiseled ass, whitened teeth, designer athletic clothes
inviting you to join it’s fitness program
Milwaukee is not eager to prove anything to you
not trying to be high fashion with it’s MilWOOKIE t-shirt and Brewer hat
it might tag itself in it’s own photos though,
because Milwaukee is not arrogant, but it IS proud
#brewcity #brewtown #thebrew #miltown #creamcity #cityoffestivals #thefuckinggoodland
Okay, Milwaukee is VERY PROUD.
If Milwaukee took a selfie
it would want you in the photo too.
Because it knows one of its most beautiful parts
is YOU
the people that live in it
Milwaukee doesn’t need to edit itself to look good
it gets its authenticity, honesty, realness, from its people
Before snapping the photo, Milwaukee would buy you a beer
raise a glass, toast you with something like,
“Cheers! We drink more in the 414!”
then it would show you a portrait of a city
for all it’s faults and flaws
no matter how many other places you find yourself
will always feel like
HOME.

my memory opens a door
to that time
you tried to pick
which one of my legs
was your favorite
not thinking about you
it’s like pulling the plug in the bathtub
telling the water
it can go anywhere it wants