Iowa Writes

STEPHEN SHERMAN
Certificates


i want my whole life's wealth liquidated
into mcdonalds gift certificates
before I die so I can walk into
a mcdonalds with bags of mcmillions
toss them at the cashier and urinate
on the floor and, for one time in my life,
not get stared at by undocumented
with abominable highlights when I
show a coupon, a free extra value
meal, that has no expiration date
which my grandpa on zoloft sent to me
in a mcdonalds envelope for christmas,
even though he knows I am jewish,
still half-believing in the temporal
immobility of the few sacred
tenets in holy life like fast food gift
certificates and the impending chance
of death, incest, disease, rain, and anger.

About Iowa Writes

Since 2006, Iowa Writes has featured the work of Iowa-identified writers (whether they have Iowa roots or live here now) and work published by Iowa journals and publishers on The Daily Palette. Iowa Writes features poetry, fiction, or nonfiction twice a week on the Palette.

In November of 2008, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) designated Iowa City, Iowa, the world's third City of Literature, making the community part of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network.

Iowa City has joined Edinburgh, Scotland and Melbourne, Australia as UNESCO Cities of Literature.

Find out more about submitting by contacting iowa-writes@uiowa.edu


STEPHEN SHERMAN

Steve Sherman emigrated to Iowa from New Providence, New Jersey, in the year 2002. He is of average height, average build, and is capable of wonderful things. "Certificate" appeared originally in earthwords, the undergraduate literary review at the University of Iowa. The review's mission is to showcase the creative works of UI undergraduates in literature and the arts, while providing students with an educational experience with the production of a literary magazine.

earthwords

This page was first displayed
on August 07, 2006

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