Alison Strub LILLIAN, FRED BOAAT PRESS Jackson, NJ USA Copyright © 2016 Alison Strub Cover Art, Layout, and Design by meg willing | www.megwilling.com BOAAT Logo by Florence Shearer Text set in Baskerville Portable Document Format www.boaatpress.com Alison Strub LILLIAN, FRED TABLE OF CONTENTS I..........................................................................................................................1 II.........................................................................................................................2 III.......................................................................................................................3 IV........................................................................................................................4 V.........................................................................................................................5 VI.......................................................................................................................6 VII......................................................................................................................7 VIII....................................................................................................................8 IX.......................................................................................................................9 X......................................................................................................................10 XI.....................................................................................................................11 XII....................................................................................................................12 XIII..................................................................................................................13 XIV...................................................................................................................14 XV....................................................................................................................15 XVI..................................................................................................................16 XVII.................................................................................................................17 XVIII...............................................................................................................18 XIX..................................................................................................................19 XX...................................................................................................................20 XXI..................................................................................................................21 XXII.................................................................................................................22 XXIII...............................................................................................................23 XXIV................................................................................................................24 XXV.................................................................................................................25 AcKNOWLEDGEMENTS Lillian and Fred have appeared in the following journals: Gigantic Sequins, Tenderloin, Salt Hill. I. Lillian, I like your dress as black Fred says my dreams about getting as soot and your perfumed wrists. my tonsils out and having my hair I like how your candle smells. The stroked means that I am going to wine glows golden, glows as your accomplish something great today. hand picks up the lobster. It glows Fred says I look so nice today. Fred as your hand shakes the salt. Lillian, says I’m so unique. Fred says he tell me. Lillian, tell me. How do you wants to sleep with me, but he really remember the table, when the meal shouldn’t. Fred says I have a peculiar is gone? heart. —1— II. Lillian, Tammy Wynette sings Fred says my dream that the right to you. Gag me. Gag me with a side of my bed was candy and that spoon. Lillian, why do you open the left side was cake means I am your mouth when your ideas are so going to accomplish something weird? Keep crouching alone on the great today. He says he has been settee, when you could be cleaning reading up on cathartic and hypnotic the candlewax gathering dust on methods and is sufficiently versed on your favorite dish. I’m sorry. I’m the subject. He says we are going to just so pissed off today. work on this. —2— III. Lillian, let me show you the Fred says my bad dream about a new fashionable fabrics: there’s lady dressed in 49 dresses means I chevron and chambray. Oh, Lillian am going to accomplish something you don’t even care. Your eyes great today. He says he has been are glazed, your tissue crumpling reading up on autodidactic studies in your hand. You just read your and its painstaking procedure and moisturizer ingredients over and is sufficiently versed on the subject. over again and what does it do: it He says we are going to work on makes you ageless. this. —3— I V. Lillian, I love your new furniture. Fred says my dream that I stood The curtains and hangings are just on top of a cross on a steeple and to your taste. The semi-grand piano couldn’t figure out how to get down fits the space well. The shelf of means I am going to accomplish books covers all the subjects I care something great today. He says he about. Lillian, I really came here has been reading up on systematic for a story. I really came here to not representation and is sufficiently hate myself. Lillian, I don’t want versed on the subject. He says we your tea gown of vivid green. are going to work on this. —4— V. Lillian, You’re so sad today, because Fred says my dream about trading you read a book that ended sadly. my engagement ring for a jukebox Your white tablecloth is sprinkled means I am going to accomplish with drops of red wine. Does that something great today. He says he upset you, too? Is that wine from has been reading up on symptoms last night, Lillian? Are those crumbs of unconscious mental life and is from last night, Lillian? What flavor sufficiently versed on the subject. of cookie did you eat, what flavor of He says we are going to work on sorbet? this. —5— VI. Lillian, what do you think are Fred says my dream about the zoo your amiable qualities? You always means I am going to accomplish ignored the Sabbath. You are always something great today. He says he bewitching, although you spend has been reading up on valuable most days cyberloafing. Your chalice and illuminating unpermitted collection is pedantic, but you’re expressions of the unconscious mind good for many things. You need just and is sufficiently versed on the need to Swiffer more. Keep working subject. He says we are going to on that. work on this. —6— VII. Lillian, I dreamt you were a soot Fred says my dream about skipping black eagle soaring through the sky. from mountain top to mountain top I apologize for calling you a fucking means I am going to accomplish airhead. I liked what you had to something great today. He says he say about slippers, and that woman has been reading up on aphoristic who was just a tad overdressed. And expressions and body language and I will try to use the phrase “Thank is sufficiently versed on the subject. Heaven” more. Anything to please He says we are going to work on you. You’re all I have. this. —7— VIII. Lillian, good god, you’re pretty. Fred says my dream about getting Is it that new moisturizer you’re my feet wet in the rain means I am using? I need to get some. Lillian, going to accomplish something tell me. Lillian tell me, Lillian, tell great today. He says he has been me a story. Yes, a gory one. How reading up on the abolishment of about one about Jeffrey Dahmer, amnesias and involuntary thoughts how about the one about Charles and is sufficiently versed on the Manson? Oh yes, you tell it all so subject. He says we are going to well. work on this. —8— IX. Lillian, I am sorry. Please don’t be Fred says my dream about tramps, mad at me. Maybe it was jealousy. cats, dogs, and water means I am Yes, I know you don’t try to flaunt it going to accomplish something great all in my face. Yes, I know I shouldn’t today. He says he has been reading have mentioned subjects that might up on resistances and blockages have upset you, as your guest. I will that can scarcely be overcome and use the phrase “I think so,” more, is sufficiently versed on the subject. rather than “I know.” I will subvert He says we are going to work on myself. this. —9— X. Lillian, I love your sable and your Fred says my dream about solemnity. I love reading your love playing ball means I am going to notes from men. Your arrangements accomplish something great today. of silk, satin, and velvet flowers are He says he has been reading up genius. Just genius. Tell me, Lillian, on maladies, melancholies, and how did you develop and perfect happiness of many years duration your hobbies? Tell me Lillian, and is sufficiently versed on the are there any dreams you can’t subject. He says we are going to accomplish? work on this. —10— XI. Lillian, the piece of cold veal was Fred says my dream about an carved with a delicate sense of avalanche that came down on me prudence, each piece weighing but didn’t hurt me means I am exactly an ounce. You even cut going to accomplish something up the bread. But, Lillian, your great today. He says he has been