A Face Mask, or David Foster Wallace’s White Bandana?

Charles J. March III

Poetry

11/11/21

  1. Something Axl Rose might use to cover his mouth.

  2. Something Br’er Rabbit might put on the end of his stick in Song of the South.

  3. Something that might be worn by Brad Paisley.

  4. Something that might make you crazy.

  5. Something that might be worn by South Park’s Mr. Hankey.

  6. Something that might be worn by Little Rascals’ Spanky.

  7. Is somewhere on the spectrum of the “hanky code”.

  8. You might wear it if you’re a “bro”.

  9. A Gen X marketing gag.

  10. A fashionable snot rag.

  11. Originated on the Indian subcontinent.

  12. If you have to wear it, you might as well flaunt it.

  13. A sign of the times.

  14. Really puts you in a bind.

  15. Soaks up sweat.

  16. Makes Vegas a safe bet.

  17. Can get you in a kerfuffle with a cop.

  18. Is really over-the-top.

  19. An admission of weakness.

  20. A recognition of bleakness.

  21. Something a Mortal Kombat character or your grandma might wear.

  22. Something that’s used to hide scraggly, unkempt hair.

  23. Can be worn on Halloween.

  24. Is utterly obscene.

  25. Looks like a battlefield Band-Aid.

  26. Makes bank tellers afraid.

  27. Might be mistaken for a Middle Eastern headscarf.

  28. Makes some people want to barf.

  29. A security blanket for the face.

  30. A public disgrace.

  31. Can be kept in your pocket.

  32. Can accentuate your eye socket.

  33. Can be worn around your neck to prevent it from turning red.

  34. Without it, you’re blue/feel dread.

  35. Looks like a giant accessory square.

  36. 2020 isn’t fair.

  37. Can be used as a tourniquet.

  38. 3∞. Can be used as a jest that’s infinite.

 

Endnote...

 

1-38: Both

Charles J. March III is a neurodivergent Navy hospital corpsman veteran currently living in Orange County, CA. His works have appeared in or are forthcoming from Atlas Obscura, Litro, Chicago Tribune, LA Times, 3:AM, Queen Mob’s Teahouse, Taco Bell Quarterly, Maudlin House, Joyless House, Misery Tourism, Blood Tree Literature (prize), The Babel Tower Notice Board, Bareknuckle Poet, Heroin Love Songs, Anti-Heroin Chic, Synchronized Chaos, Defenestration, Versification, F(r)iction, Literary Orphans, Centre for Experimental Ontology, Otoliths, Oddball Magazine, et al. Links to his pieces can be found on LinkedIn and SoundCloud.

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