Сity where there are no men

infectious diseases department of a hospital that doesn’t exist

this is where your father found out he had HIV

across the street is a huge park

this is where your father met your mother

the town is small so it’s only a 10 minute walk to the house

where your father first hit your mother

a co-op apartment is filled with the emptiness in which you spent your childhood

this is where your father first cheated on your mother

every summer you spent with your grandmother in the village

your grandmother always said that your father was ugly

you never loved your grandmother because of this

but one night you saw your mother covered in bruises without makeup

she looked tear-stained and you asked why

“your father got HIV” your mother said and ran away crying

you didn’t understand what HIV was and why your mother cried

when your father died your mother was happy

and said that the womanizer dog got what he deserved

then you realized that your mother cried not because of your father but

because no man had ever truly loved her loved

you will leave the bombed city forever

your parents are buried in different places of the cemetery

not a single man has ever truly loved you

and there is no city no love no men in this city anymore

Hospital train

Definite article
Infinitive of rain

The carriage is filled with emptiness
The body which had lain on the floor for three days
No longer shudders from the sound of the wheels hitting the rails

Time is draining from the station walls
Here in the basement people with weapons are hiding
They will kill the air they will eat the names of the murdered

The carriage hurtles into the unknown
The world revolution of the revolutionary world
Messy red tumor of the bloody world

From the left edge of the sky the right rain falls
And metallic rain falls from the naked air
And acidic rain falls from the trees in endless autumn

Old-hoarse voice stopped the stop for the sleeping 
And the dead and it is not clear who is who
Sleeping death made of smoke and cigarette butts is chasing the train

Nothing is certain
Everything is flooded

Hello

Hello

I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to get through or that you gave me the wrong phone number

I’m afraid the cosmetologists are lying about me being able to completely remove all my freckles

What if my pet turtle dies again?

Will I have a second mother if the first one dies?

The rainbow in the sky was sold to private international companies

The sky is covered in cola and energy drinks

I’ve forgotten why I’m calling you

I’ve forgotten who you are

I’ve forgotten my name

The sky doesn’t fall because I cry

Nights don’t end because a new day begins

Why aren’t you answering? I have unlimited mobile phone calls

I have two legs, two arms, two lives

Each new life is worse than the last

Why do I need a new life?

I have two eyes and two eyelids

I close my eyes so I can’t see

My ears don’t want to hear

Sounds and images, this kaleidoscope, won’t change anything

You’re silent

You give me hope

You’re killing me

You’ve dialed the wrong number

Goodbye

Mykyta Ryzhykh is a Ukrainian poet nominated for Pushcart Prize. Published many times in literary magazines: Tipton Poetry Journal, Stone Poetry Journal, Neologism Poetry Journal and others. His chapbook tombboy (Lоst Telegram press) was released in april.