I might not give much,

but I loosen 

just enough to raise

half a decibel

Or decrease by a

Fahrenheit or two,

just enough to have my foot 

in the door where she won’t 

let me stay

and spend 

the night,

but won’t shut the door

And send me home

because 

her needs outweigh

the pending supply. 

Even if I make her

cough,

sigh,

or squeal,

like captive hyenas,

As long as she feels that 

her feelings are heard

but toyed with, 

then I’m okay. 

You can't please them all,

they say.

But you can tease them

About their insecurities 

tied to self-loathing

with each

cough,

sigh,

or squeal. 

I was once addicted

to the 

hokey-pokey,

but I’ve turned

myself

Around. 

Chris Mardiroussian is a Lecturer in the Department of English at California State University, Long Beach. His most recent book is a full-length collection of poetry entitled BLUNDER DOWN UNDER, which Chasing Shadows Magazine called, "A stark and raw style of writing that clearly constitutes the life of a typical miscreant."

In 2019, he won First Prize in the Cinema Italian Style Film Festival (sponsored by the prestigious American Cinematheque in Los
Angeles) for his short film entitled IL BREAKUP, which he co-wrote and produced. In 2017, he co-wrote a collection of poetry entitled HONESTY. LOVES. CRUELTY. He has also worked on several independent films such as Friends in High Places (2021), nominated for Mexico City’s International Film Festival, The First Color (2020), won the Disability Issues Award, and The Ties that Bind Us (2019), won the Gold Award for Independent Shorts. His work has appeared in
Bloom Magazine, BOMBFIRE, Ice Lolly Review, Maythorn Magazine, Perfumed Pages, Pomona Valley Review, Soul Talk Magazine, and elsewhere. He lives in Los Angeles, CA.