Daniel Gallik

Sometimes It’s Good To Quit Loving

by Daniel Gallik

Isn’t normal. She kept saying

these words to him. During days.

Even at night while he slept. He

acted normal but felt like killing

her. He told her a few times

that he did not like living with

her anymore. It had got boring.

Then, he stopped telling her this

because she did not understand.

She didn’t make an attempt to see.

She kept at it, isn’t normal. You

aren’t normal. Finally, he left.

Didn’t take a bit of his clothes.

His guns. His collection of rare

bks. The odd decoys he had laying

around the corners of each room.

Yes and he took his car. Funny,

how she thought she was getting

used to not seeing him anymore.

The months added up. Actually,

she thought, it’s delightful. It’s

relieving. The kids even quit

asking where the old man was. She

died without a thought in her mind

Sad Love

Daniel Gallik

You need a fitted, girlie

jacket, the manikan said,

but, of course

without talking. Jeanie laughed

at the thought.

Walked out the door of Estelle’s

and over to the mall

fountain. Hersch was there,

waiting. Saying,

I’ve seen a lot of girls but not you.

Jeanie laughed at him.

That’s what she

was supposed to do. At least,

that’s what Hersch

thought. School is such a bore

said Jeanie.

Hersch said, and

it was the last thing he said,

I am yours

but can’t be cause I can’t be.

Daniel Gallik has had poetry & short stories published by Hawaii Review, A.I.M., PARABOLA, NIMROD, LIMESTONE (U. of Kentucky), THE

HIRAM POETRY REVIEW, AURA (University of Alabama) & WHISKEY ISLAND (Cleveland State University). His first novel, A Story Of Dumb Fate is available at publishamerica.com The book concerns the raising of a child with

disabilities in a low class neighborhood in the fifties. Currently, Gallik's agent is trying to sell his second novel, Must Know Death...