Ambages

If you prefer to leave
the laundromat through the back door,

which is always open during business hours,

you may.

Conversely, if you prefer to enter through said back
door and leave through the front, you may, as well.

Or, go in the same way you came in, thus avoiding
the novelty, terra incognita, and need for innovation

of egress unlike the ingress, and general

new-world disorder perhaps worse
than the bundle of hot fabric in your straining bag

that will spill into a shambled heap
when you reverse it to open onto the floor or bed,

yielding one avenue of escape unlike the 'mat—
but enough for small chaos, which is your clean choice

back to issue

John Zedolik is an adjunct English instructor at a number of universities in Pittsburgh and has published poems in such journals as Abbey, The Bangalore Review (IND), Commonweal, FreeXpresSion (AUS), Orbis (UK), Paperplates (CAN), Poem, Poetry Salzburg Review (AUT), Third Wednesday, Transom, and in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. In 2019, he published a full-length collection, entitled Salient Points and Sharp Angles (CW Books), which is available through Amazon. His iPhone continues to be his primary poetry notebook, and he hopes his use of technology to craft this ancient art remains fruitful.