Eric Lochridge
Jeff Bezos Shows Up on My Doorstep
Jeff Bezos shows up on my doorstep
with the pressure washer I ordered.
Standing there, rocking on his heels, he is smaller
than I imagined him, and I imagined him as small.
He demonstrates the courtesy of wearing a mask,
customer satisfaction always top of mind.
His mask is a thousand-dollar bill and some string
tied through, a grotesque joker of a smile painted on in red.
He hands over the dented box under the shelter of my porch.
Nice place you’ve got here, he says, craning over my shoulder,
eyeing the spartan living room. He smacks his lips and turns
to go. I tell him I had been streaming “The Wire” on Prime.
Season two, I got to episode eight and you want two ninety-nine an episode
to continue? Like a pay phone operator demanding quarters?
Nine ninety-nine for the entire season, he answers, the smile crinkling.
No deal, I say, standing my ground.
He just stands there like a gargoyle
with that stupid money strapped to his face.
with the pressure washer I ordered.
Standing there, rocking on his heels, he is smaller
than I imagined him, and I imagined him as small.
He demonstrates the courtesy of wearing a mask,
customer satisfaction always top of mind.
His mask is a thousand-dollar bill and some string
tied through, a grotesque joker of a smile painted on in red.
He hands over the dented box under the shelter of my porch.
Nice place you’ve got here, he says, craning over my shoulder,
eyeing the spartan living room. He smacks his lips and turns
to go. I tell him I had been streaming “The Wire” on Prime.
Season two, I got to episode eight and you want two ninety-nine an episode
to continue? Like a pay phone operator demanding quarters?
Nine ninety-nine for the entire season, he answers, the smile crinkling.
No deal, I say, standing my ground.
He just stands there like a gargoyle
with that stupid money strapped to his face.
Biography
Eric Lochridge (he/him) is the author of three poetry chapbooks, most recently Born-Again Death Wish. His poems have appeared in Okay Donkey, DIAGRAM, Slipstream, Seems and many others. He lives in Bellingham, Washington. Find him on Twitter @ericedits and at ericedits.wordpress.com.
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