“IF ONLIES” By Brian Rihlmann

my hole to China

has hit bedrock

and that’s it—

it’s a wishing well

and a grave now

(every wishing well is)

I remember when 

being a personal trainer

was the dream....

and then I did it 

for awhile...

I’m not cut out to be 

a babysitter 

or cheerleader either

and everything is like this

every move to a new place

a different job

a different routine

love

I’ve no illusions—

If I found a way

to scribble for a living 

I’d wear out that “if only” too

“If onlies” only work

if they stay “if only”

heaven is populated 

with millions of the faithful

all trying to hang themselves

with their own halos

wailing and gnashing teeth

because they cannot die

Brian Rihlmann was born in NJ, and currently lives in Reno, NV. He writes mostly semi autobiographical, confessional free verse, much of it on the so-called "grittier" side.  Folk poetry...for folks. He has been published in Constellate Magazine, Poppy Road Review, and has an upcoming piece in The American Journal Of Poetry.