Web Exclusive

Welcome to our Web Exclusive section. Each month we will be bringing to you poetry, flash fiction, columns and more! With that, we welcome you to our September exclusives!

This Machine
Dan Denton

this machine was formed
with the hardened steel
of poverty and desperation
the blood of men is its nuts and bolts

this machine was harassed and intimidated
it was beaten like a dog and shot in the back
it was starved of work
and nearly killed a dozen times
it survived all of that
and the rich men smeared its name

this machine was forged in hell
and it took the lives
of one hundred thousand men and women to carry it out

this machine rallied in New York
it fought wars in Pennsylvania, Colorado and West Virginia
it marched in Chicago again and again
it muscled its way into Detroit
it took the Pittsburgh steel mills by storm
this machine marched all the way to San Francisco

it finally clinched its fist
and punched it into the air
the world fought a great war
and this machine made
the machines and weapons
that saved it

this machine began to manufacture equality
it filled busses and paraded itself
down avenues of social justice
it held the hand of the Civil Rights Movement
it was declared
the most dangerous machine in the country

it was shot at again and still bears the scars
its work was taken away and given to others
its foundation was disassembled a little at a time
it was leashed and caged and left to rust

yet this machine still grumbles today
a machine built by blood and solidarity
forged in hell and paid for
with the lives of one hundred thousand men and women —
this is a machine too strong
to be killed off by armies
or politics and corruption and presidents

in many places this machine still builds
automobiles and jet planes
it makes steel and drives trucks
this machine maintains and repairs almost
every electrical line in America
and teaches students in almost every state
this machine picks food
it cans food
and it sells food in supermarkets
this machine unloads ships and it builds space ships
it nurses in the hospitals and it delivers our mail

this machine that has
kicked fascist ass for 200 years
and is still biting the hands of the rich

this machine that built this country
this machine that turns jobs into careers
that feeds and insures families
that provides a way out for so many of us

this machine, the mighty union
the mighty mighty union of marching brothers and sisters
this machine that still holds a line
that still holds a line for us all

Why Shouldn’t We?
Dan Denton

there will be those
like me
who keep finding
the dead ends
of this living world

there will be those
like me
who know the feeling
of keeping a trapped animal
alive in their hearts-
you can only live
by fight or flight
never both

a human body
has limits
and some people
carry pain and sorrow
like a modern Atlas
you can see it
behind their forced smiles
and in the way
their eyes
are always looking
for an escape route

this is to those
like me
that sometimes
see no other way out
that find no other relief
from the constant
crushing sorrow
of an exact same
tomorrow

light one more cigarette
finish your morning tea
let the dogs out
smoke the good weed
in the bright smile
of another mischievous sunrise

wait one more minute
think a few more thoughts
scan the quiet horizon
go the extra mile
one more time -
even a condemned man
gets a last meal
one more appeal
and a chance
to say some final words

why shouldn’t we?

Find more Dan Denton here!

The Ledge
Todd Badolato

Characters:

Josh: Male, in his mid-twenties. Suicidal, possibly a stereotypical nerd

Sheila: Female, in her mid-twenties. Suicidal, lowly prostitute

Setting: a ledge on a building. Joshua is standing with his arms and legs spread apart to maintain balance. There is a window beside him, at the height of his waist.

Josh: Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil for Thou art with me: Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me… Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, the valley of the shadow of death, the Yea, though I shadow of death, I shadow of death I…
(Sheila comes onto the ledge. Sidestepping carefully from around the building. Cuts off Josh)
Sheila: Hey!
Josh: (startled, defensive) I’m gonna do it! You can’t stop me, I’ve made up my mind, you can’t stop me!
Sheila: I’m not trying to stop you! Go ahead jump!
Josh: You aren’t here to stop me?
Sheila: No. I was just wondering if you were a priest.
Josh: Oh, uh…no.
Sheila: Oh…sorry.
Josh: Why do you ask?
Sheila: Oh no reason.
Josh: o.k. (pause)
Sheila: So, you’re jumping?
Josh: Yeah…you?
Sheila: Yup.
(pause)
Sheila: Why here?
Josh: Huh?
Sheila: Why are you jumping here?
Josh: Oh. (points to the window) My office.
Sheila: Ah!
Josh: You?
Sheila: The view.
Josh: Oh I see. (confused)
(pause)
Josh: So…uh, why?
Sheila: Life sucks.
Josh: Same here.
Sheila: So what’s your name?
Josh: Joshua.
Sheila: Hey Joshua, I’m Sheila.
(They shake hands, still struggling not to fall off the ledge)
Josh: Nice to meet you.
Sheila: Likewise, so what did you do in the office?
Josh: (becoming agitated) You know, I don’t mean to be rude, but I came out here with the intention of being alone. Alone is how I wanted this to be. I wanted to stand here, by myself, counting cars down there and concentrating on the permanent wedgie scars up the crack of my ass! I’m sorry for being rude. It’s just that this situation is stressful enough as it is. It’s just very awkward that’s all.
Sheila: I’m sorry.
Josh: Don’t be.
Sheila: It’s just that I…
Josh: Forget it.
Sheila: You know I was o n the other side of the building for an hour before I came over here?
Josh: (hesitant) Really?
Sheila: just sitting there, looking at the world below. Guessing how many guys down there paid me instead of their wives or girlfriends; just for that quick fling which adds up to nothin’ but a whole big bag of shit.
Josh: So you’re a prostitute?
Sheila: Dirty whore. I have a reputation to uphold. Please!
Josh: Sorry.
Sheila: Well, anyways, I’m sitting over there when I started to wonder if there really is a God, ya’ know? If he really exists. Why he could treat someone like this…
Josh: Are you gonna be… (gets cut off by Sheila)
Sheila: And then I hear this voice, praying. And it was you. Now I know it doesn’t mean anything, but I really hope it did, ya’ know? I hoped that maybe there was something supernatural, maybe God, maybe a guardian angle, but something…for me! Something to tell me I wasn’t alone.
Josh: You’re not al… (gets cut off)
Sheila: Look I’m sorry. I know you’d rather be alone right now, so I’ll go back to the other side. (starts to step away)
Josh: Telecommunications!
Sheila: Huh?
Josh: You wanted to know what I do, or did in there. (pointing at the window) Telecommunications. I’m a telecommunications manager.
Sheila: What’s that?
Josh: Oh it’s just a lot of stuff to do with computers, and phone lines…actually, it’s a lot like televangelism. Except without that whole lying, stealing, southern Jesus thing.
Sheila: (carefully, slowly) Can I ask you a question?
Josh: What is it?
Sheila: Why are you here?
Josh: Do you really want to know?
Sheila: Yes, I really do.
Josh: O.k., well…I just…it’s just that…what I mean to say is… (pause). Sometimes I look around the world, and all I see is shit. Sometimes it all looks so bad; I can’t even bear to look at it. So I close my eyes, and it’s only then that I can see the world for what it could be and everything becomes so clear! I see the problems and I know the solutions. I actually know how I can make it all right. This goes for everything: work, leisure, love, everything.
Sheila: So what’s wrong with that?
Josh: What’s wrong is that eventually I have to open my eyes. I have to face the problems. It’s like, I can still see the solutions, but I can’t bring myself to take action. I can’t solve the problems. Call it cowardice, or humiliation, shyness, weakness…whatever. But I can’t do it. (small pause) You know, you’re the first girl I’ve ever come remotely close to talking to, except of course my mother. But you know what I mean? Like, really talking to.
Sheila: Yeah, I think I do.
Josh: (embarrassed) I’ve said too much.
Sheila: No, not at all.
Josh: I’m feeling a little embarrassed.
Sheila: No, don’t be. What you said meant a lot to me. Thank you for trusting me with that.
Josh: O.k.
Sheila: (apprehensively) Would you like to know why I’m here?
Josh: Are you sure you wanna tell me?
Sheila: No.
Josh: I’d like to know…if that’s o.k.?
Sheila: O.k…well…I…do you know why I became a whore?
Josh: Do you want me to guess?
Sheila: Sure.
Josh: I don’t know, uh…did your father beat you?
Sheila: No, my father never beat me. (mumbling) He never beat me, or touched me or held me…
Josh: Did someone, hurt you?
Sheila: Ya know, there are movies, novels, paintings, sculptures, so many artistic expressions all attempting to define what love really is. But there isn’t one that could tell how you feel when you’ve found it. No books to explain how to get it. No fabric that feels anything like it. The truth is, when it comes to love, the human race is left clueless. We know it exists, and we strive to get it, but we have no idea who to look for it, or how to know when we’ve got it. Have you seen those “lovebirds” in the streets? Walking in the parks, or strolling hand-in-hand on the back, making out in movie theatres? You ask ‘em, “how do you know your love it true?” The answer’s always the same. “We just know.” Then they reconvene their nibbling session and call each other wonderful, or beautiful. If someone ever called me beautiful, I can guarantee you they were looking for a discount. Like I look like fucking Walmart! So I’m a whore because I stopped believing in love. And without love there’s nothing worth living for is there?
(Sheila looks down, an slowly begins to lean forward. At the same time, Josh slowly closes his eyes, breathes deeply, slowly opens them, an look straight out into the sky.)
Josh: I…I think you’re beautiful.
Sheila: (leaning back against the ledge) What?
Josh: I think you’re beautiful.
Sheila: You’re just saying that because I…
Josh: No I mean it. You’re beautiful, and you’ve got a good heart, I can tell, and you know what? Love isn’t supposed to be easy to find. It’s supposed to take work, and pain, and patience. And that’s why it’s so obvious when you finally o find it, and…that’s all I wanted to say.
Sheila: That’s all I needed to hear.
(Sheila reaches out and takes Josh’s hand. Brings his hand to her lips and kisses him. Then begins to suck his middle finger.)
Josh: What are you doing?
Sheila: (seductively) I’m seducing you.
Josh: You really are a whore aren’t you?
Sheila: It’s just that I…
Josh: Never mind that now. I say you forget everything that you’ve done and everyone you’ve done, and start fresh…with me.
Sheila: With you?
Josh: Well we’re gonna jump anyway, so I figure what do we have to lose?
Sheila: O.k.
(Josh slowly begins to reach for the window to open it)
Sheila: Hey Joshua.
Josh: Yes?
Sheila: You’re not a coward.
(pause)
Josh: Thank you.
(Josh tries to open the window. It won’t open.)
Sheila: What’s wrong?
Josh: The window’s been locked!
Sheila: What!
Josh: I don’t believe it either.
Sheila: So what do we do now?
Josh: We could jump… (gets cut off)
Sheila: No.
Josh: (responding quickly) Neither do I.
(pause, they realize they’re stuck there until someone opens the window.)
Sheila: We just can’t get a break can we?
(Joshua and Sheila look at each other, then turn their faces to the audience. They simultaneously sign in agitation. Fade to black.)

Curtain call.