Day 10: Chad Haskins on "Still Waters" by Phyllis Wax

For Day 10 of 30 Days of The Five-Two, Chad Haskins sent in the following commentary on "Still Waters" by Phyllis Wax. —Gerald So

I love this poem. It is also a very timely topic. The extended metaphor of a gun to a protective lover is gripping and entertaining. The first two stanzas show how important this "dear persuader" has become. The speaker cannot sleep without the persuader..."my protector, my savior, my love."

The last stanza begins with the strong physical features which also provide the speaker with security. The speaker then calls the person "my faithful Roscoe," which I had to look up to learn that a “Roscoe” is a term used for a handgun in the 1920s and 30s. She shortens the term affectionately to “my hot Rod,” revealing the related sexual attraction.

The speaker concludes the poem with perhaps a biblical allusion to Psalms 23:4 by saying, "I fear nothing. You are with me...my salvation." Also, the title of the poem appears to come from Psalms 23:2 “He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters." Perhaps the speaker is trying to show that this relationship is an extreme dependence, almost mocking it—the salvation "pocket rocket." —Chad Haskins

Chad Haskins

BLUFF

Looking me in the eyes,
sliding her chips forward,
she says, "all in,"
muddled by a history
of aloof boldness.

Holding a pair of twos,
a crime not to fold,
I play to the end,
losing everything—
except the fucking truth.


Chad reads "Bluff":



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Chad confesses nothing.

CHAD HASKINS lives in Georgia. His writing has appeared, or is forthcoming, in Untitled Country Review, Yellow Mama, Spinetingler, Golden Sparrow Literary Review, Citron Review, Horror Tree, Barefoot Review and Flash Fiction Offensive.

Chad Haskins

GUILTY

My crime is
this unoriginal,
dramatic groaning,
forced upon you
on my knees,
fucking bleeding...
her soothing love
ripped from my core.


Chad reads "Guilty":



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Chad confesses: "This poem was inspired by the pain I felt after losing contact with a special person in my life."

CHAD HASKINS lives in Georgia. He enjoys the outdoors, working out, Mexican food, various styles of music, crime fiction, and engaging conversations. Chad's writing has appeared or is forthcoming in Rose and Thorn Journal, Blue Collar Review, Untitled Country Review, Yellow Mama, Spinetingler Magazine, drown in my own fears, Golden Sparrow Literary Review, Flashes in the Dark, Dark River Magazine, and The Flash Fiction Offensive.

30 Days of The 5-2 - Day 18: Pattinase

Lineup #3 alum Patti Abbott discusses Chad Haskins' "Apparition".

See the full 30 Days of The 5-2 schedule.

Chad Haskins

APPARITION

I forgot how deep
the shallow grave was.

The photograph
is light and heavy in
my trembling hand.
                                             
There we are together:
A reminder of
what once was.

What did you do, precious baby,
to get your daddy to hold you
cheek to cheek?

Look at the pride in his eyes,
chin high
beneath a glowing smile,

embracing you
with both arms;
he can’t get close enough.

How did you
fuck that up?


Chad reads "Apparition":



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Chad confesses: I stumbled across an old photograph of my father holding me when I was a baby; it stirred up many feelings because we have been estranged for a long time. The poem “Apparition” is a glimpse into my head and heart as I stared at the picture of us together.

CHAD HASKINS lives in Newnan, Georgia with his wife and two sons. Chad's poems appear in Rose and Thorn Journal, Untitled Country Review, Blue Collar Review, and are forthcoming in Powder Burn Flash and Yellow Mama.