Bart Wilcox
The Usual Comforts
2026, Acrylic on canvas, 16″ x 12″

In the Cabana
the drinks are everlasting,
the shrimp is always fresh,
the diving, you’ll want to grow gills.
In fact, you can.
This is the Cabana,
built on the rectified
shores, return of Old Gaza,
by your chatpanion.
And if you should hear
the shots, they will sound
like birdcalls, autotuned
castrati.
The cries of children, laughter.
Sing, sirens, sing,
you are lashed to the mast.