The Fourth
You imagine
bruising the bully
who once burned you
with the firecracker
down your pants –
beating then cutting him,
exposing the bone and
watching him bleed
as you fork him
onto the barbecue –
as the coals
spit their fireworks:
everything red,
white and blue.
Grill marks stark
as prison bars
on the meat
as you celebrate
your freedom
and imagine.
Michael Arnzen is an award-winning author of horror fiction and an English professor at Seton Hill University, where he has taught writing since 1999. His trophy case includes four Bram Stoker Awards and an International Horror Guild Award for his often funny, always disturbing stories. Join his social network at michaelarnzen.com.
Sad to hear that @microcosms editor and horror writer/poet Stephen M. Wilson has passed. His poetry lives on. http://t.co/sTj4sx8XBa - 10 hours ago
Latest posts by Michael Arnzen (see all)
- Scary Movies (and More) by my Horror Writing Students (Spring 2013) - 05/01/2013
- My Monstrous Lecture on the Horror Genre: “Horror is the Removal of Masks” - 04/27/2013
- Live Instigation - 04/14/2013
- Outlaws At the Treffpunkt: the 5-2 Crime Poetry Weekly - 04/04/2013
- National Poetry Writing Month 2013 - 04/01/2013
The Goreletter is my free e-mail newsletter rich in strange microfiction, offbeat humor, horror poetry, reviews, surprises, contests, and tiny oddities. Recipient of the Bram Stoker Award! Subscribe today.
05/20/2013 at 9:55 am 
05/11/2013 at 6:32 pm 
I’ve imagined revenge on bullies and other bad guys more than a few times but never taken to that level! Seriously dark stuff. Fun to read too!