Wendy Cartwright – Cajun Mutt Press

Vernon Vernon Vernon

Probably the last time I’ll see my sister
Half-ass sober save for Twisted Tea
Out of prison in June I jumped at the chance in September
From Vernon
To Vernon
With Vernon
Took it as a sign or maybe an omen
Coincidences like that don’t just happen

I’m not much for long road trips these days
Hotel with no hot water
Forget it just drive
The dog pissed in Vernon’s lap on a bridge in Alabama
Just past rocketship’s rest stop
Just drive

Cruising down the highway by moonlight on a long straight road
Heart pounding for Florida
Almost missed the sign
Expecting some profound change in terrain at the border
It’s more gradual than I thought

The Chipley Red Roof Inn
Sleepless knowing she’s 15 minutes away and I won’t see her til morning
It’s been 16 years
Another ten hours won’t hurt
We’ll have 5 days to reunite, reconnect, relate

It’s hot in Florida in September and Vernon can’t breathe
But the a/c works like a champ at the Red Roof Inn
Leaving him behind,
I snatch every moment I can with my sister in Vernon
Trailer Trash Park
Swimming in the lagoon with alligators
Maybe, I don’t know because I didn’t see them
What I don’t know won’t hurt me
Scheduled matching tattoos
Quality time with the forgotten original
Reared apart but identical

Trip cut short
Vernon doesn’t want to die there
No tattoos, only 10 minutes that last morning
Driving back to Chipley from Vernon for Vernon
Tears streaming Dire Straits on the radio
It’s another sign or maybe an omen
Coincidences like that don’t just happen

Sister Cartwright

Wendy Cartwright is a writer out of Columbus, IN. She writes two regular columns for newsprint and has independently published a compilation of articles from one of them. She has also had articles published on businessinsider.com . Wendy has had poetry published in Issue 1 of Night Owl Narrative by Cajun Mutt Press. She writes in many genres with a particular affinity for poetry and essay. She is a member of Writers Guild at Bloomington. You can find her at readings in and around Columbus.

We’ve entered March, it’s starting to warm up outside, and Night Owl Narrative No.3 is officially available!
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CVF469HX
(Links to 1 & 2 will be in the comments.)

Issue No. 3 Contributors:

Ben Holland, John Burroughs, Blu K. Boss, Scott Laudati, Jay Passer, A.L. Locke, Michael Duckwall, Ron Whitehead, Jim Murdoch, Wayne F. Burke, Ryan Quinn Flanagan, Joe Szalinski, Efe Tusder, Randy Barnes, Roy Duffield, Dan Flore III, LB Sedlacek, William Teets, William David Pollard, Robert Ragan, Dan Denton, Heath Brougher, Dee Allen, Lynn White, Wendy Cartwright, Sanjeev Sethi, Daniel S. Irwin, Austin Burrows, Wolfgang Carstens, Merritt Waldon, Jonathan S Baker, Rob Azevedo

Details about issue 4 coming soon! All I need to do is button up a few things, and it’ll be ready for April. Michael Duckwall’s artwork will be on the cover!!

7.2 SkullQuake by Michael Duckwall is also available!! Brother Duck offers up pieces of his soul in artistic and poetic form in this beautiful little chapbook! You can get in touch with him for a signed copy or follow this link to find it on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CVG31R8S

I’m also about to start working on the rest of the book manuscript submissions! I wanted to get a few copies of the magazine under my belt first. You’ll be hearing from me soon if you’ve sent one. Hold Fast.

Below is the list of this month’s featured writers. Send 1-3 poems to cajunmuttpress@gmail.com to be considered for a spot. Send work for Night Owl Narrative to the same email. I’m taking art, short stories, flash fiction, poetry, photography, columns, articles, interviews, etc for the magazine. Anything Goes. Please include a bio and author photo with ALL submissions!

Y’all Keep Kicking Ass Out There!

Big Love, Write On,
JDCIV
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🦉🎟️🦇