Ryan Brotman
about him

Ryan also contributed "Brushwork," "Tuesday Night @ the Drive-In," and "Bread and Fish at 5000 Ft." to this issue of PaloVerde.

Gizmo
by Ryan Brotman

Do you get up when I sleep,
grabbing a greasy after midnight drumstick
while my eyes close under mason-jar lids. 

Do your plastic limbs sprout fur,
with your green glowing tummy lighting the way
to my refrigerator door. 

Perhaps you drive around in my shoe,
or steal my keys and use them to carve your name
into the bottom of my coffee-table

And maybe-
You’re the one responsible for all my lonely socks.

You’ve stuck with me since childhood.
A warning against lateness and buying anything
with the flimsy gold sticker, “made in Hong Kong.”

I know you know when I get up.
Someday my eyes will unscrew before 10:00 a.m.-
on that day, you’re mine.

Until then, whatever you do,
don’t drink the water.

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