The 2River View
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Martin Ott

Angel Blue

Blue is the color of Los Angeles
because it happens so rarely.

Dusty culverts puddle beneath sky
winks. Gucci bags swish like bluebirds

hunting for mates. Tears tattooed
on my barista remind me of movie

credits, the dramatic hue of asphyxiation
and unslapped babies. My fingers burn

blue from whiteboard markers and brains
stormed. Night-blue lingerie drapes falling

veins. My daughter’s guitar teacher killed
herself not long after assigning blues

scales. Sad notes and an azure gaze
linger like foreign currency, lake days.

So much here to misunderstand,
our blue angel, this sleeping city.

Children of Interrogation

Why are you running from my hugs?
The question marks I wield are barbed tonight.
The moon’s face beams on a wanted poster.
Why is a single humped camel not a camel?

The questions marks I wield are barbed tonight.
Water torture will not work on a mermaid.
Why is a single humped camel not a camel?
Why does cancer need us to survive?

Water torture will not work on a mermaid.
My last cigarette is in the future, I’m afraid.
Why does cancer need us to survive?
“Deadlines” originate from the Civil War.

My last cigarette is in the future, I’m afraid.
Why won’t dental floss decapitate my enemies?
“Deadlines” originate from the Civil War.
Civilization hides in my son’s finger painting.

Why won’t dental floss decapitate my enemies?
Why are you running from my hugs?
Civilization hides in my son’s finger painting.
The moon’s face beams on a wanted poster

Martin Ott is a former U.S. Army interrogator. He has been nominated for two Pushcart prizes, and his poetry manuscript Children of Interrogation has been a semi finalist or finalist in more than a dozen poetry competition. contact

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