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      January 20, 2020Flow Chart Without the FlowJack Vian

      Does she know
      That I know
      What she said?

      >or<

      Does she think
      I think
      She’d say

      “Yes?”

      Does she think
      I think
      It was my idea all along
      NOT
      To have made him choose
      Whom he thinks she thinks
      I think she would want
      >but<
      To have what she wants?

      >or<

      Did she always know
      So that’s why
      He felt safe to say
      “Yes”
      To the “No”
      That was always
      Meant to disturb
      Her lips
      As much as
      Mine

      >and<

      [if so]
      Where does that leave
      >me<
      except to pretend
      everything
      is exactly as lonely
      and silent
      as only a smile
      can know
      the eye
      to be?

      from #65 - Fall 2019

      Jack Vian

      “So often when we poets write about the art of poetry and its making, we turn to highfalutin, metaphysical, and downright supernatural psychobabble to exalt and explain our ways and means to the unwashed and ivory-templed alike. I just like to play with words because it makes me happy. It makes me even happier that I’m pretty good at it. It make me happiest that poetry is a never-ending quest that never quits inviting us to pass on the ‘pretty good’ and continue pursuing a growth mindset of ever-cuter and tricksier methods of leveling up and exploring the infinitudinal limits of our literary playland’s rides and attractions. This poem’s no different. It’s just me hanging out backstage at ‘The Kidd and Khamille Show’ while playing Pokemon Go with the remixed and mashed-up wordtracks until the only dancer left on the floor is another sand castle disco ball hustle queen wearing a tinfoil crown dedicated to the auspices of truth, hope, and the all-too-human trifecta of never-yielding samsaric despair. Cheers!”