Alec Solomita’s fiction has appeared in Peacock Journal, 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, The New Criterion, The Galway Review, Bold + Italic, Litbreak, 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. His first full-length book of poetry, “Hard To Be a Hero,” was published  by Kelsay Press in 2021. Both can be found on Amazon. He’s just finished another, “Glass Flowers.” He lives in Massachusetts.

Siesta

I can’t sleep.
It’s the afternoon heat.
It’s like the fifth broiling fucking day
in a row.
I couldn’t sleep last night,
I cant sleep today.
I’ve never been to Rome.
I’ve hardly been anywhere.
I can’t write, I think it’s the booze.
I opened the window at midnight
and put in the fan.
When I closed it this morning
I felt the heat pressing in
and heard the hollow sound
of a dog’s bark.