2 Poems by Nolcha Fox

Running

My feet are running

as fast as they can

while I go nowhere

on this machine.

My nose is running

as fast as it can,

faster than this tissue

can catch it.

I’m running out of money,

my wallet is much thinner.

I’m running out of time

to pay my taxes.

Paint is running

as fast as it can,

blending together,

streaks of purple and green.

I’m running, going nowhere,

while snot runs on my wallet,

while the paint runs off the canvas,

and time runs away from me.

Learning the Hard Way

I’m sorry

I used

laundry spray

to fry your eggs.

I thought

I grabbed

the cooking

oil spray.

I’m sorry

I slid on wet

concrete

and ruined

my dress.

Sidewalks

aren’t good

water slides.

I am just

a sorry mess.

If there’s a

hard way to learn,

I’ll find it.