MICHAEL CHANG



EMPLOYEES MUST WASH HANDS



when i want a job 

i show them a bone 

ask how will u take care of my ambition 

they’re overwhelmed w/ appreciation 

handsome & intense 

the devil’s always working 

as article ii provides 

the president shall take care that the laws be faithfully executed . . .

like furry pets 

or numbers on a spreadsheet 

gold watch rounding a corner 

victim of a perfect crime 

five-finger discount 

dollar for a dime 

bring me canvas stretched tight 

silk pillows & suppers of meat 

these extended tongues lead double lives 

headstrong kings 

whose blood

everything brightens


SWEETHEART

clear ur front / lay down a towel / this ham sandwich is free / in the dark these ashtrays wink / that tower sizzles / deceived by the appearance of things / the bloodthirst of millennia / who can say which u prefer / it's ok to be dishonest / the bu

MICHAEL CHANG (they/them) is the author of many collections of poetry, including SYNTHETIC JUNGLE (Northwestern University Press, 2023) & EMPLOYEES MUST WASH HANDS (GreenTower Press, 2024). They edit poetry at Fence.