Fred Aiken Writing

October 23, 2021

Dark Pool Trading

I have a hard time believing epic caper movies where all this

federal man power goes into investigating and apprehending these sleazy, sad-story robbers who

got away with millions

after being torn down by life one limb at a time,

when some equally sleazy, though not as suave or charismatic, though possibly asthmatic tick in a button-up three piece of some gawdawfully expensive material suit

presses a few buttons around and billions disappear into trillions disappear into a dark chasm in the middle of the universe

that was last seen by that creepy guy named Richard who spends an inordinate amount of time

rubbing his genitals over money he collects and smells oddly of copper and artificial wood pine

October 23, 2021

Forgetful Thoughts/Life

a PowerPoint presentation of a life

cut into small transitions from left to right,

swipe now,

swipe faster

but for your sake and mine, just don’t stop

until you hit the end, which for some

might look like a beginning twisted in a knot

by some Eagle Scout that smoked a joint

while trying to teach Cub Scouts what it

is all about, though I’m not sure that’s advisable,

just clear the table,

regale us with something entertaining, maybe a little morbid,

but none of that crap that might get

turned into a made-for-tv movie that

no one ever sees,

no one ever talks about,

that plays late at night when only the drunks are up,

trying to pleasure their wives with limp figure

eights tucked into their pants,

let loose, while someone at a Taco Bell

listens in with anticipation, antiquated, on a job half-well-done, but not rare

though if you buy now,

we can throw in a free throw pillow with

the face of any celebrity you want printed on it,

just act fast

and don’t forget

October 23, 2021

Waiting in Line for My Coffeee

balancing the odds by sitting on the chest of your opponent while

punching their nose in as they cry

out for some deus ex machina to come save them, please, for the love of all things holy and sanitary, come save the bloody nose mumblings of this stranger I met at a Starbucks and thought it might be a good idea to punch them in the face until

they no longer had one, though maybe I’m just overthinking it, and the odds are already stacked

against me