KENNY A. CHAFFIN - POEMS

Kenny A. Chaffin writes poetry, fiction and nonfiction and has published work in Mobius: The Journal of Social Change, Scarlet Leaf Review, Microfiction Monday Magazine, 365 Tomorrows, Star*Line, Speculative 66, James Gunn’s Ad Astra, 101 Word Stories, and others. He grew up in southern Oklahoma and now lives in Denver where he works hard to support two cats, numerous wild birds and a bevy of squirrels. His poetry collections and other works are available at http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B007S3SMY8.

​Allusions of Birds

The feeder is empty, broken
hanging at an odd angle
from a rusted chain.


It’s visited now and then
by sparrows and has an
abandoned finch nest inside.


The old woman delighted
in her birds and roses
that was many, many years ago.

Water at the Moon’s Poles

We could establish bases.
Perhaps use solar panels
to split the molecules
into hydrogen and oxygen
providing both fuel and air,
two essentials for survival.


More likely though
Pepsi or Coke will
bottle the water,
sell it for $1000
a pop and claim it
cures cancer.

What is Gravity*

Gravity is sunlight
warming the back
of your neck as
you hear the click
releasing the blade

of the guillotine.
 

 

*Written in response to someone asking "What is Gravity?" on a forum post from Quantum Physicist Sean Carroll discussing the emergence of Gravity and Spacetime from Entangled Quantum Information. http://www.preposterousuniverse.com/blog/2015/05/05/does-spacetime-emerge-from-quantum-information/

​The Shame

What can you do
in one hundred days?


Walk a thousand miles.                                                  
Guilt heaped upon your shoulders.


Dragging your penis
along grinding sandstone.


Wishing it were less.
Wishing it were more.

When the Lava Bomb Hits

Sometimes a lava bomb just hits
and people die before your very eyes.
 
We all want the power,
to see the power, to get
close to the power.
In our tourist boats.
 
Still, you must stop and ask yourself,
Where were the squirrels?
 
 ​