Alec Solomita’s fiction has appeared in the Southwest Review, The Mississippi Review, Southword Journal, and The Drum (audio), among other publications. He was shortlisted by the Bridport Prize and Southword Journal. His poetry has appeared in The Ekphrastic Review, Gnashing Teeth Publishing, The Galway Review, Bold + Italic, Litbreak, Subterranean Blue Poetry, The Blue Nib, Red Dirt Forum, and elsewhere.  His chapbook, “Do Not Forsake Me,” was published in 2017 and is still available at Finishing Line Press and Amazon. His first full-length book of poetry was published last April by Kelsay Press. He’s working on another. He lives in Massachusetts.

Interrogative

Shall I use my cane today
to slow walk up the hill
where the morning
breakfast shop is still
open, though morning
has escaped just minutes ago?

Shall I check my mail today
as I drink coffee and eat
my egg sandwich in front
of my laptop, gazing at the street?
Yes and yes, of course.
Shall I check Facebook

and its cheery babble,
hollow bickering,
fastuous advice,
teens displaying their tongues?
Shall I look up
the word “fastuous?”

Shall I feel the news
smother me in pleats of rubble,
choke on dust, smoke and blood,
blink at black empty eyes
that once were windows,
watch the oily baby-kissers
kiss oily babies?

Shall I use my cane today?