A Stone Meant for Il Duce

By Allison Whittenberg

long letters begging to get close…
love can make you crazy, 
especially if you're already insane. 

a teenage dream becomes reality 
as you move up the mistress list, 
straddling his pole until his heart hurts

the fascist loses favor
the war is all but lost

tickets for Spain wait
he brother pleads

she stays by his side in Mezzegra
as the firing squad aims

they hoist their carcasses 
by their ankles.

together in their union

her skirt flipped
the partisans jeer

a stone meant for Benito
strikes Clara instead

****

Allison Whittenberg is an award winning poet, novelist, and playwright. They Were Horrible Cooks is her collection of poetry. Her novels include Sweet Thang, Hollywood and Maine, Life is Fine, Tutored and The Sane Asylum. Her plays have been performed at The Festival of Wrights (New York),Downtown Urban Arts Festival, The Secret Theatre,  Interact Theatre, and Equity Library Theater of New York.