ready.set.go :: paint the town___

Jen Schneider

as dawn turns to dusk and bodies churn, adventure calls. at the door. on the cell. in the window.

streaks of rust. displaced sauce-dipped crust. zig zag and pulse. then press. softly. nail beds

flutter. sneakers hit breaks. limbs lock. lips soak paint. corduroy elbow patches brush. finger

pads press berries. scoop ripe pulp. rays of dust. primed. ripe. ready. to paint the town ____.

14 (plus) ways to paint the town ____

Three scoops of vanilla. Extra chocolate syrup. A single maraschino cherry. On top.
Cheeks flush with joy.envy.cold.fear.share. Sockets stuffed with M & Ms. An extra dose

of sarcasm. Eliminated due to dye.

Eyes tracked & traced of sleepless nights & early morning goodbyes. Train schedules.

Scheduled collections. Thick ink. Makeup traces in bathroom sinks.

Fresh berries on the vine. Ready to be picked. Watch for pricks.
Toes polished then burnt from late afternoon rays & romps in sand.
Mars is over 142 million miles from the sun. Set sites on its soil & two small moons.
Rudolph always finds his way. Morning. Night. & Day.
Of rosy suitors & lucky suits. Jacks. Queens. Kings. All at the ready. Perfect pairs.
A dozen roses. High priced fare. Fresh. No foil. Late nights toil.
Chili by the gallon. Diced tomatoes. Extra marinara. Take care. Hot chili peppers,

beware.

Meet (meat) & greets. Knives slice. Blood pools. Blood pumps.
Beating hearts & chambers of multiple motions. Hands lathered of cherry flavored

lotions.

Water kisses fire. Sizzle. Saucy. Savory. Stop.
Silk & satin dresses of fire engine heat. Bleet. Bleet. Bleet. Dancing feet.

Ready. Set. Stop. All lights on. Await go.

Paint the town ____.

Flash Issue 5

Jen Schneider is an educator who lives, writes, and works in small spaces throughout Pennsylvania. She is a Best of the Net nominee, with stories, poems, and essays published in a wide variety of literary and scholarly journals. She is the author of A Collection of Recollections, Invisible Ink, On Daily Puzzles: (Un)locking Invisibility and On Crossroads and Fill in the Blank Puzzles (Moonstone Press), and Blindfolds, Bruises, and Breakups.

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