© any Barberino Evans, Benny Biesek, Bri Bruce Chris BriThree Ash Trees Behind the Cathedral Romana...
Transcript of © any Barberino Evans, Benny Biesek, Bri Bruce Chris BriThree Ash Trees Behind the Cathedral Romana...
2Riv
erw
ww
.2Ri
ver.o
rg74
74 D
rexe
l DR
• U
nive
rsity
City
• M
O •
631
30 •
USA
2RV
18.2
(Win
ter 2
014)
The
2Riv
er V
iew
18.2
(Win
ter 2
014)
new
poe
ms b
yBr
i an
y Ba
rber
ino
Evan
s, B
enny
Bie
sek,
Bri
Bruc
eCh
ris e
n G
holso
n, D
.B. G
oman
, Rom
ana
Iorg
aEl
izabe
th M
ajer
us, K
elly
Nel
son,
Ann
mar
ie O
’Con
nell
Clau
dia
Rein
hard
t, an
d Cl
audi
a Se
rea
The
2Riv
er V
iew
, 18.
2 (W
inte
r 201
4)
Abou
t 2Ri
ver
Sinc
e 19
96, 2
Rive
r has
bee
n a
site
of p
oetr
y an
d ar
t, qu
arte
rly
publ
ishin
g Th
e 2R
iver
Vie
w a
nd o
ccas
iona
lly p
ublis
hing
in
divi
dual
aut
hors
in th
e 2R
iver
Cha
pboo
k Se
ries.
2Ri
ver i
s also
th
e ho
me
of M
uddy
Ban
k, th
e 2R
iver
blo
g.
Rich
ard
Long
2Riv
erIS
SN 1
536-
2086
ww
w.2
Rive
r.org
ww
w.m
uddy
bank
.org
The
2Riv
er V
iew
18.2
(Win
ter 2
014)
The
2Riv
er V
iew
, 18.
2 (W
inte
r 201
4)
Conten
ts
Clau
dia
Rein
hard
tSu
pers
on
War
ning
Bri
any
Barb
erin
o Ev
ans
Resid
ue o
f Tra
gedy
Benn
y Bi
esek
Not
Fly
nt a
t All
poet
sang
, dru
nk
Bri B
ruce
Fr
agili
tyTh
e Le
avin
g
Chris
en
Gho
lson
Show
ing
my M
othe
r Pho
tos o
n m
y Lap
top
the
Day a
er C
hrist
mas
Thre
e As
h Tr
ees B
ehin
d th
e Ca
thed
ral
Rom
ana
Iorg
a is
a Ro
man
ian-
Amer
ican
livi
ng in
Virg
inia
. A
grad
uate
of t
he U
nive
rsity
of M
inne
sota
cre
a v
e w
ri n
g pr
ogra
m, s
he c
urre
ntly
teac
hes E
nglis
h at
the
Thom
as Je
ff ers
on
High
Sch
ool f
or S
cien
ce a
nd Te
chno
logy
.
Eliza
beth
Maj
erus
live
s in
Urb
ana,
Illin
ois,
with
her
hus
band
, so
n, a
nd d
augh
ter.
She
is on
e-th
ird o
f the
ban
d M
otes
. Ke
lly N
elso
n te
ache
s Int
erdi
scip
linar
y St
udie
s at A
rizon
a St
ate
Uni
vers
ity. H
er p
oem
s hav
e ap
pear
ed re
cent
ly in
Ecl
ec c
a,
Foun
d Po
etry
Rev
iew
, Mix
ed F
ruit,
and
Tar R
iver
Poe
try.
Annm
arie
O’C
onne
ll re
sides
on
the
Sout
h Si
de o
f Chi
cago
. Her
w
ork
has a
ppea
red
in S
lipst
ream
, SO
FTBL
OW
, Ver
se D
aily,
and
W
hisk
ey Is
land
Mag
azin
e. H
er c
hapb
ook,
Her
Las
t Cup
of L
ight
, w
as re
cent
ly p
ublis
hed
by A
ldric
h Pr
ess.
Clau
dia
Rein
hard
t is a
free
lanc
e w
riter
, edi
tor,
and
tuto
r. He
r w
ork
has a
ppea
red
in F
ox C
ry R
evie
w, N
ebra
ska
Life
, Pla
ins
Song
Rev
iew
, The
Wisc
onsin
Rev
iew
, and
The
Un
dy
Seas
on: A
n An
thol
ogy
of N
ebra
ska
Wom
en P
oets
.
Clau
dia
Sere
a im
mig
rate
d fr
om R
oman
ia to
the
Uni
ted
Stat
es
in 1
995.
Her
poe
ms a
nd tr
ansla
ons
hav
e ap
pear
ed in
5 a
.m.,
Appl
e Va
lley
Revi
ew, M
erid
ian,
New
Le
ers
, and
Wor
d Ri
ot. H
er
book
s inc
lude
Ang
els &
Bea
sts,
The
Sys
tem
, and
A D
irt R
oad
Hang
s Fro
m th
e Sk
y.
The
2Riv
er V
iew
, 18.
2 (W
inte
r 201
4)
Contrib
utors
Benn
y Bi
esek
has
con
trib
uted
to D
ead
Snak
es, K
erne
l Cri
c,
Mirr
ors M
agaz
ine,
and
Sic
k O
f The
Rad
io. H
e pe
rsev
eres
with
th
e Si
x N
ines
Hai
ku P
roje
ct w
hile
ass
is n
g w
ith c
ura
ng
read
ings
at
the
Poet
ry C
hurc
h in
San
Lui
s Obi
spo,
Cal
iforn
ia.
Bri B
ruce
hol
ds a
BA
in li
tera
ture
from
Uni
vers
ity o
f Cal
iforn
ia
at S
anta
Cru
z. H
er w
ork
has a
ppea
red
mos
t rec
ently
in T
he
Way
fare
r Jou
rnal
.
Bri
any
Barb
erin
o Ev
ans h
as b
een
publ
ished
in M
etap
hor a
nd
Que
st. S
he re
sides
in C
onne
c c
ut, w
here
she
is a
play
wrig
ht fo
r a
loca
l the
ater
com
pany
.
Chris
en
Gho
lson
is th
e au
thor
A F
ish T
rapp
ed In
side
the
Win
d an
d O
n th
e Si
de o
f the
Cro
w. H
e bl
ogs a
t noi
se a
nd si
lenc
e.
D.B.
Gom
an h
as a
n M
A in
hist
ory.
His
wor
k ha
s app
eare
d in
Di
tch,
Eye
Mag
azin
e, P
oetr
y M
ontr
eal,
Qua
rry,
and
Sto
ryac
ious
.
D.B.
Gom
anN
oah
in th
e Ki
tche
nW
ith P
erse
ph
Rom
ana
Iorg
aTh
e Li
onO
rchi
ds
Eliza
beth
Maj
erus
The
Wom
an w
ith a
Dre
ss o
f Sky
The
Wom
an w
ith a
Sui
t of N
ight
Kelly
Nel
son
Repa
iring
Our
Bro
ken
Furn
iture
Sand
ston
e
Annm
arie
O’C
onne
llYo
u Ca
n Ta
ke A
ny B
ody
A Si
ngle
Bird
Wai
ts o
n th
e Em
pty
Clot
hesli
ne
Clau
dia
Sere
aTh
e Fl
ower
of B
lood
The
2Riv
er V
iew
, 18.
2 (W
inte
r 201
4)
2. 100,
000 fl o
wer
s ope
n in
Syr
ia,
a fi e
ld o
f ble
edin
g po
ppie
s,
and
in e
very
squa
re o
f eve
ry c
ity,
on e
very
stre
et,
and
tv sc
reen
,
with
eve
ry sc
ream
and
exp
losio
n.
And
the
wor
ld w
atch
es th
e pe
tals
unfu
rl,th
e br
eath
taki
ng sp
ecta
cle,
agai
n an
d ag
ain.
No
one
can
stop
it,
and
the
wor
ld b
loom
s w
ith p
ain.
A fl o
wer
of b
lood
ope
ns o
n ea
rth
and
you
can
see
it fr
om sp
ace.
Clau
dia
Sere
a
The fl o
wer
of b
lood
A
er I
mra
n Q
ures
hi’s
inst
alla
on
at th
e M
et
New
Yor
k, 2
013
1. A fl o
wer
of b
lood
ope
nson
the
roo
op
over
look
ing
Cent
ral P
ark
and
anot
her o
ne o
n th
e as
phal
t bel
ow,
next
to th
e bl
ack
re m
arks
and
the
li le
girl
’s sli
pper
.
Sire
ns w
ail
ever
y m
e a fl o
wer
of b
lood
open
s in
the
city
,in
a h
ospi
tal r
oom
,
or a
t hom
e,in
my
fath
er’s
hear
t.
Oth
er
mes
, it
open
s in
silen
ce,
in th
e fa
ce o
f the
dyi
ng c
hild
and
the
face
of t
he m
othe
r hol
ding
him
,
and
in th
e m
outh
of t
he g
unth
at h
is br
othe
r hol
ds.
Clau
dia
Rein
hard
t
Supe
rs
on W
arni
ng
“Cov
er y
our m
outh
whe
n yo
u ya
wn,
or s
pirit
s
will
fl y
into
you
r bod
y,”Gr
amm
a sa
id a
s we
wee
ded
and
wat
ered
, pic
ked
an
d pr
uned
in th
e ga
rden
.Ev
il sp
irits
fl y
into
my
eigh
t-yea
r-old
bod
y?Ev
il lik
e th
e sn
ake
in th
e ga
rden
of E
den?
May
be th
ere’
s a sn
ake
in G
ram
ma’
s gar
den:
stac
cato
tong
ue a
bre
ath
away
from
mud
-cov
ered
toes
wai
ng
for m
e to
pas
s its
shad
owy
hole
. If
evil
spiri
ts fl
ew in
to m
y bo
dy, s
lithe
red
into
my
soul
,th
en I
mig
ht b
ecom
e a
snak
e—
fore
ver g
roun
ded—
eyes
nev
er b
linki
ng. A
nd w
hen
the
heav
ens y
awne
d an
d st
retc
hed
at d
awn,
my
spiri
t w
ould
soar
into
the
sky
and fl y
into
th
e su
n’s fl
am
ing
body
and
it w
ould
swal
low
me
who
le.
Benn
y Bi
esek
Not
Fly
nt A
t All
Her f
ace
was
far t
oo ro
uge.
Ther
e w
as a
fuse
lage
clo
se b
y. I
hear
That
they
chu
rn u
p sh
it cl
ose
by,
Whi
ch le
ads t
o th
e ne
ighb
orho
odSm
ellin
g lik
e it
does
. Wha
t doe
s it
Do fo
r me?
Asid
e fr
om n
othi
ng,
Not
muc
h. I
gues
s I c
ould
repe
atM
ysel
f: ta
ke a
sled
ge to
a To
yota
’sAb
dom
en. I
am
far t
oo p
roud
To b
eg. S
hit,
bruh
: bee
n to
Ven
ice
Befo
re it
succ
umbe
d. H
erFa
ce w
as fa
r too
roug
e –
dise
ased
,
Fran
kly.
Hon
estly
, tho
ugh,
with
The
shit
they
chu
rn u
p cl
ose
by?
I am
ge
ng
ahea
d of
mys
elf m
ade
Cour
tesy
of s
omeo
ne d
arlin
g. W
hen
The
crow
s fl y
ove
r, br
othe
rs li
sten
.
Annm
arie
O’C
onne
ll
A si
ngle
bird
wai
ts o
n th
e em
pty
clot
hesl
ine
feve
rishl
y sh
akin
g th
e ra
in off
his w
ings
.Yo
u sit
in th
e pa
rk a
nd w
ait
for t
he so
und
of th
e ba
bygi
rl’s l
augh
ter i
n be
twee
n th
e w
ind
a e
r the
man
pre
tend
s to
kick
her
as sh
e co
mes
swin
ging
dow
n fr
omth
e sk
y. A
er y
ou h
ear i
t,a
man
from
acr
oss t
he st
reet
toss
eshi
s bag
of g
arba
ge o
ut th
e ca
r win
dow
and
it la
nds i
n so
meo
ne’s
fron
t yar
d. H
e w
aits
for h
is fa
ther
to h
ug h
im, o
r at l
east
touc
h hi
m, l
ike
that
dog
wai
ts th
ere
by th
e yo
ung
boy
as h
e w
aves
a s
ck
in fr
ont o
f his
mou
th. T
he d
rool
runs
dow
nhi
s fur
ry th
roat
. His
teet
h cl
ench
and
miss
. He’
s onl
y a
whi
mpe
ror
two
away
.
Annm
arie
O’C
onne
ll
You
can
take
any
bod
y an
d ge
t it t
o st
op m
ovin
g. B
utw
hat s
eem
s s ll
and
soun
dles
sw
aits
. Li
ke th
at m
an in
the
driv
er’s
seat
tas
ng
all t
he se
cret
bits
of h
is ow
nal
iven
ess.
Wat
ch o
ut fo
r tha
t girl
dig
ging
thro
ugh
her p
ocke
ts—
your
pas
t fl ie
s off
her l
ike
spar
ks.
Betw
een
all t
he b
odie
s,on
e m
ust b
e br
imm
ing
with
cou
rage
. Som
eone
mus
t sur
vive
us a
ll. A
wom
an is
way
up
ther
ein
the
very
last
win
dow
with
not
hing
on b
ut a
dim
ligh
t. Sh
e’s a
bout
to re
mak
ehe
rsel
f the
n sle
ep.
Benn
y Bi
esek
poet
sang
, dru
nk
the
ocea
n is
out t
here
.w
e ar
e sw
imm
ing
in it
.yo
u ha
ve b
ills t
o pa
y.i h
ave
bills
to p
ay.
let u
s bur
n th
e bi
lls.
let t
hem
cha
in u
s dow
n.a
riot t
o be
hea
rd,
no d
oubt
.a
trai
n ru
ns, u
nder
grou
nd.
the
ocea
n ha
s bill
s, to
o.it
burn
s the
m fa
ster
, tho
ugh.
it ha
s no
chai
ned
part
s.it’
s a ri
ot, f
or su
re.
i dou
bt n
o tr
ain
will
com
e fo
r me.
if it
does
, the
n i
will
run
away
.i c
anno
t fi n
d th
e w
ays t
o en
d th
e da
y.
Bri B
ruce
Fragility
From
my
mot
her
I lea
rned
how
win
e sw
ims i
n th
e ve
in,
wha
t hap
pens
whe
n th
e va
quita
die
s,ho
w to
boi
l mea
t fro
m b
one
to m
ake
chic
ken
soup
.Li
ke h
er, o
en
I am
s rr
ed fr
om sl
eep
by th
ough
t, no
t dre
am.
A fr
enzie
d ra
p at
the
thin
doo
r a b
ecko
nto
follo
w h
er in
to th
e su
mm
er g
arde
n,w
e lis
ten
to th
e bi
rds—
nigh
thaw
k in
the
oak,
moc
king
bird
in th
e un
derb
rush
.W
e bu
sy o
urse
lves
won
derin
g w
hat d
ark
plac
ebe
com
es th
e be
d of
the
crow
.
In th
ese
mom
ents
,w
e ar
e su
dden
ly a
war
e th
at o
ur h
eart
s are
bea
ng—
ther
e is
som
ethi
ng la
rger
than
our
selv
es.
And
know
ing
the
frag
ility
of i
t all,
we
spea
k th
e la
ngua
ge o
f mor
talit
y.
Kelly
Nel
son
Sand
ston
e
Whe
n a
cany
on is
slot
eno
ugh.
Whe
n yo
u ca
n pu
t one
boo
t
on o
ne w
all,
your
oth
er fo
otup
the
othe
r, w
ell t
hen
that
can
yon’
s lik
ely
a w
hist
ler.
I hea
rd it
fi rs
t whe
n I w
as tw
elve
hiki
ng w
ith m
y da
d. I
star
tled,
act
ually
jum
ped.
Dad
laug
hed.
“Th
ink
ther
e’s a
trai
nro
und
the
bend
?” H
e w
asn’
t lik
e th
e te
ache
rs
in sc
hool
who
exp
lain
thin
gs.
He ju
st k
ept w
alki
ng, o
ne c
runc
hing
step
a e
r ano
ther
. I h
eard
it ju
st la
st w
eek,
with
my
girl,
ove
rnig
h n
g in
Ant
elop
e
Cany
on. N
ow th
ere’
s a b
eaut
y of
a w
hist
ler.
A re
al m
usic
ian
that
one
.
And
whe
n it
cam
e up
that
lip
to g
lass
bo
le m
oan
and
my
girl
star
tled
besid
e m
e, I
whi
sper
ed, t
he c
anyo
n’s
singi
ng to
you
, bec
ause
you
are
that
bea
u fu
l.
Kelly
Nel
son
Repa
iring
Our
Bro
ken
Furn
iture
I am
tryi
ng to
tell
him
why
I am
tryi
ng to
tell
him
wha
t I lo
veab
out h
im. I
’ve
pulle
d ou
t
our t
wel
ve y
ear o
ldvo
ws t
hat r
ead
now
as IK
EA in
stru
c o
ns in
Sw
edish
coar
seni
ng, g
ore
in y
ou-s
vang
two
dots
ato
p an
O so
und
like
shut
eye
spr
eten
ding
to sl
eep
coar
seni
ng, g
ore
in y
ou-s
vang
the
line
thro
ugh
an O
soun
ds li
ke m
y ca
rsk
i er
ing
an ic
y la
ke
I am
soun
ding
it o
ut, s
tep
by st
epsc
rew
turn ght
ensc
rew
turn ght
ena
smal
l bro
ke-n
eck
wre
nch
in h
and
I am
tryi
ng to
tell
him
but h
e is
gone
. I h
ave
gone
. Our
hom
eis
gone
. The
O in
no
scar
red
by p
ock
mar
ks.
The
O in
no
slash
ed in
hal
f.
Bri B
ruce
The
Leav
ing
By th
e he
avy
glas
s doo
rsyo
u kn
eel,
nake
d, to
gat
her s
ca e
red
clot
hes,
your
dar
k sil
houe
e a
shad
owag
ains
t the
vio
let d
awn.
I k
now
this
shap
e yo
ur b
ody
mak
esag
ains
t the
sky.
A le
af fa
lls fr
om th
e bl
ack
oak
tree
.I s
ee a
fl as
h of
rust
-red
—th
e ro
bin’
s bre
ast
befo
re th
e w
indo
w. Y
ou b
rush
the
hair
from
you
r for
ehea
d.So
mew
here
alo
ng th
e av
enue
a m
achi
ne
is br
eath
ing,
and
I wat
ch th
e st
eady
rise
and
fall
of y
our b
are
ches
t.
I hol
d m
ysel
f bac
k, o
nly
to re
ason
—w
ere
I a d
og c
urle
d in
you
r lap
,w
ould
you
hav
e he
ld m
e th
en?
Will
you
rem
embe
r me
whe
n yo
u ar
e go
ne, a
s Ire
mem
ber s
prin
g as
the fi r
st sn
ow fa
lls?
At y
our p
assin
g of
the
beds
ide:
your
dim
pled
skin
, the
smel
l of s
ea sa
lt.I t
urn
away
from
fain
t rus
tling
sin
the
smal
l kitc
hen,
the
quie
t unl
atch
of t
he d
oor.
Bri
any
Barb
erin
o Ev
ans
Resi
due
of T
rage
dy
Cert
ain
thin
gs h
ave
happ
ened
her
eth
at m
akes
us t
hink
ther
e’s a
man
—an
uns
pecifi e
d, sl
ight
ly ta
ll Ca
ucas
ian
mal
e, a
t the
win
dow
ever
y ni
ght.
Cert
ain
thin
gs h
ave
happ
ened
, whi
chm
akes
us l
ock
our d
oors
, and
he
has
tool
s to
brea
k in
and
he
saw
us a
t mar
ket,
cros
sing
the
stre
et a
nd w
e di
d no
t see
him
.He
follo
wed
us h
ome
and
we
do n
ot o
we
anyo
nem
oney
,no
adu
ltery
,w
e ha
ven’
t sto
len.
The
Mal
tese
lap
dog
mus
t see
him
in th
e tr
ee’s
shad
ow th
at sh
e ba
rks a
t and
the
child
ren
don’
t kno
w w
hy th
ey a
re n
o lo
nger
defi
ant
incl
aspi
ng th
eir m
othe
rs h
ands
. N
o on
e he
re is
fi t t
o ju
ror.
The
men
try
to c
omfo
rt,
“lig
hten
ing
does
n’t s
trik
e tw
ice
in o
ne sp
ot,”
and
the
wom
en d
o no
t lea
veho
me
a e
r dar
k w
ithou
tth
eir m
en.
Eliza
beth
Maj
erus
The
Wom
an w
ith a
Sui
t of E
arth
It’s t
oo m
uch
for m
ost o
f her
occ
asio
ns,
but s
he w
ears
it m
ore
and
mor
e. S
he la
ys it
on th
e fl o
or a
t nig
ht, a
nd in
the
mor
ning
it’s e
asy
just
to sh
rug
hers
elf b
ack
into
it.
It ke
eps h
er w
arm
in w
inte
r and
coo
lin
the
heat
of s
umm
er. B
ut it
is h
eavy
,al
way
s den
se a
nd lo
amy
or b
aked
thic
k,cr
acki
ng a
ll ov
er w
ith d
ry ri
vule
ts.
She
carr
ies i
t on
her b
ack
and
on h
er h
ips,
bear
s it a
s she
wea
rs it
. Whe
re sh
e’s b
een
it le
aves
smud
ges o
f mud
, cru
mbl
esof
bla
ck so
il, in
dro
ught
a d
us n
g of
dirt
.
Sh
e lo
ves t
hat i
t kee
ps h
er g
roun
ded.
But i
n it,
she
does
n’t s
trid
e or
try
to ru
n.
Sh
e sh
ambl
es. S
he sh
uffl e
s her
feet
.Sh
e’s g
iven
up
on k
eepi
ng h
er sh
oes c
lean
. By
a e
rnoo
n, sh
e fe
els d
rug
dow
n. In
the
early
even
ing,
it’s
all s
he c
an d
o to
kee
p up
right
.Sh
e do
esn’
t wan
t to
sleep
in it
, but
she’
s re
d,so
re
d sh
e dr
ops d
own
in d
ream
less
slee
p.
Eliza
beth
Maj
erus
The
Wom
an w
ith a
Dre
ss o
f Sky
It’s t
here
in h
er c
lose
t. Sh
e do
esn’
t wea
r it o
en.
On
days
she
does
, the
day
is d
iff er
ent.
Smal
l chi
ldre
n ru
n th
eir fi
nge
rs a
long
her
hem
,m
en st
are
fran
kly
at h
er u
nass
umin
g br
east
s.Sh
e fi n
ds a
ligh
t han
d on
her
shou
lder
, a w
oman
who
has
nev
er to
uche
d he
r bef
ore.
The
han
dlin
gers
, fi n
gers
fann
ing
into
clo
ud.
In it
, she
’s su
bjec
t to
the
wea
ther
.In
the
mor
ning
, the
ligh
t ski
rt g
low
s with
wav
esof
May
suns
hine
. Puff
y w
isps d
ri a
cros
s her
hips
and
thig
hs, g
athe
ring
in th
e bo
dice
in c
loud
ypr
ofus
ion.
By
a e
rnoo
n, th
e w
hole
dre
ss is
slat
egr
ey, a
hum
id e
mbr
ace.
She
lays
dow
n fo
r a n
apin
a b
ed o
f mist
and
ligh
t win
d, d
ream
s of fl
yin
g. At
dus
k, sh
e ta
kes a
wal
k al
one.
She
dri
sfa
mili
ar si
de st
reet
s, n
oddi
ng a
t nea
rst
rang
ers w
ho sm
ile in
the
fadi
ng li
ght.
Thei
r dog
s snu
ffl e
for s
mel
ls, n
ot se
eing
or sc
en n
g he
r. Sh
e an
d he
r dre
ss a
re d
ark
amid
the
dark
ness
, but
she
cros
ses w
ithou
tfo
lly, w
ithou
t cau
on.
She
is n
ot a
frai
d.
One
yea
rdo
wn,
seve
ngo
ne a
nd n
ow th
ere
are
mar
atho
ns a
nd sc
hola
rshi
psw
ith n
ames
on
them
whi
ch a
re n
ow st
reet
sign
san
d Je
nny
sleep
s with
a g
un in
her
nig
htst
and—
Such
a p
re y
requ
iem
, an
iden
ty w
hich
can
not
be ri
nsed
, ref
uses
to b
e un
-sco
rche
d,th
at c
anno
tfa
ll
from
the
tree
s in
autu
mn.
Chris
en
Ghol
son
Thre
e As
h Tr
ees b
ehin
d th
e Ca
thed
ral
The
way
the
win
d cu
rves
ar
ound
one
ash
- fu
ll ye
llow
—
an
d th
e ne
xt o
ne e
xplo
des.
F
all o
f lig
ht: s
ame
light
th
at tr
aile
d th
e pl
umm
et to
hel
l: Lo
ve tu
rned
in
side
out.
A ru
sted
iron
spik
e dr
iven
int
o th
e m
iddl
e rin
g of
a st
ump.
Bla
ck w
inge
d,
chth
onic
silh
oue
e a
cros
s s ll
-gre
en g
rass
.
And
the
ants
, the
ant
s, h
ow th
ey re
build
the
wor
ld e
ach
nigh
t.
A m
an w
ith a
bla
ck c
owbo
y ha
t pi
cks a
n ab
ando
ned
whi
te ri
bbon
off
an e
mpt
y be
nch,
tw
irls i
t.
Bel
ls to
ll th
e qu
arte
r hou
r.
Rom
ana
Iorg
a
Orc
hids
My
nigh
ts a
re n
ow fu
ll of
dar
k co
ats
bu o
ned
up o
n em
p n
ess.
Blac
k sh
oes c
arry
ing
noth
ing
wal
k ou
t the
doo
r eac
h m
orni
ng.
I wak
e up
to la
yers
of b
ricks
arou
nd m
y bo
dy, e
ach
day
one
mor
e la
yer,
the
cat
alre
ady
how
ling
on to
p of
my
head
—a
mad
wom
an.
The
cat m
ight
as w
ell b
e de
ad,
for a
ll th
e go
od it
s shr
ieki
ng w
ill d
o. I h
ave
this
wat
ch in
my
pock
et—
smoo
thas
sea-
glas
s, p
erfe
ct. I
t doe
sn’t
wor
k.I t
ake
it ou
t eve
ry so
o e
n.It
alw
ays s
how
s the
righ
t m
e. So
on it
will
be
daw
n. H
ungr
y ac
hes
will
circ
le a
roun
d m
y kn
ees,
smal
l vul
ture
s,ai
min
g fo
r the
hei
ghts
of t
his s
tern
rock
.Ea
ch d
ay su
ch a
n Ev
eres
t. S
ll,
they
sail
quic
kly
thro
ugh
thei
r ow
n st
orm
s.M
y he
ad in
the
clou
ds, I
mus
t loo
k in
vinc
ible
. Do
wn,
dow
n to
the
valle
ysof
con
tent
ed h
ouse
wife
ry a
nd fu
ll be
llies
,th
e m
outh
s of c
hild
ren
open
ing
like
orch
ids,
cal
ling,
cal
ling.
Rom
ana
Iorg
a
The
Lion
Ev
ery
ange
l is t
errif
ying
.
Rilk
e He
com
es in
the
dark
, bre
aks d
oors
,m
uscl
es h
is w
ay th
roug
h w
indo
ws.
His w
ings
wra
p ar
ound
my
hear
t lik
e sin
.Hi
s wor
ds ru
n th
roug
h m
y bl
ood
like
bloo
d. Th
e m
orni
ng a
er,
an a
bsen
ce
has f
alle
n ac
ross
the
bed—
a ca
vern
of f
ear.
Even
rum
pled
,th
e m
issin
g fe
athe
rs p
rove
me
insig
nifi c
ant.
Whe
re is
the
lion
who
will
eat
of m
y he
art?
Whe
re is
the
lion
who
will
dre
am in
my
skin
,st
retc
h hi
s paw
s out
of t
his l
oose
hide
, his
limbs
alre
ady
heav
yw
ith sl
umbe
r? W
here
is th
e lio
n’s s
hado
w,th
e on
ly o
ne I
can
look
at a
nd n
ot g
o bl
ind?
Thic
k-pe
lted,
wel
l-fed
, it m
ust r
est e
lsew
here
,its
man
e ga
ther
ing
dark
ness
, the
wei
ght o
f its
win
gsac
hing
ly m
ine.
Chris
en
Ghol
son
Show
ing
my
mot
her p
hoto
s on
my
lapt
op th
e da
y a
er
Chris
tmas
Ev
ery
me
I sho
w th
em to
her
I n
o c
e th
e sa
me
thin
g: so
few
face
s.
Tree
s, sn
ails
in w
alls,
shel
ls, p
a e
rns o
f lic
hen
on ro
ck, r
ock
an
d m
oss,
a sn
owm
an
with
seaw
eed
hair,
Sw
anse
a Ba
y. S
he li
ghts
up
whe
n sh
e se
es a
face
. “W
ho is
that
?”
She
has s
een
thes
e ph
otos
bef
ore,
so m
any
mes
,
ha
s for
go e
n. T
his f
orge
ng
is he
r she
lter,
cr
adle
s her
in th
e da
rk.
W
hat w
as it
she
wan
ted
whe
n sh
e st
arte
d ou
t?
*
Ba
re tr
ees f
ollo
w m
e ho
me.
Cros
sing
the
Dela
war
e in
to N
ew Je
rsey
, up
287
to th
e N
ew Y
ork
stat
e lin
e. A
ll th
e w
ay,
th
e ta
ntal
izing
pa
ern
of b
are
bran
ches
.
Stor
ies,
rune
s:
I h
ave
spen
t my
life
de
sper
atel
y tr
ying
to re
ad th
em, k
now
ing
th
ere
is no
ans
wer
, ac
ng
as if
the
answ
er is
s ll
ther
e, ju
st o
ut o
f rea
ch.
D. B
. Gom
an
Noa
h in
the
Kitc
hen
Life
bei
ng w
hat i
t is,
one
dre
ams o
f rev
enge
.
Gau
guin
He lo
oks a
t the
stov
e cl
ock,
cou
n n
g off
the
hou
rsfo
r the
big
day
. Cha
os in
the
kitc
hen—
pots
fi lle
dw
ith w
ater
for w
ho k
now
s how
long
; sha
rp u
tens
ils
to so
rt th
e fr
eeze
-drie
d pa
ckag
es—
lots
of b
ack-
up,
two
of e
very
thin
g, e
ven
the
herm
aphr
odite
s in
a pa
il.
He’s
pric
ked
each
one
for b
lood
sam
ples
too,
kee
ping
a ce
ntrif
uge
by th
e fr
idge
; his
eyes
a m
icro
scop
ew
atch
ing
for d
ange
rous
mut
a o
ns; t
he ra
in o
n th
e ro
offo
rty
bars
of k
ick-
ass b
lues
with
him
on
the
ham
mer
;hi
s hom
e a
vess
el, h
is he
art i
mm
orta
l, a fl o
a n
g pa
rabl
e.
They
cou
ldn’
t be
save
d; d
egen
erat
e, in
diff e
rent
, or j
ust
mee
k, re
ady
to g
ive
up a
nd d
ecay
—un
like
the
thra
shin
gon
es h
e ad
mire
d, e
x n
ct b
efor
e hi
s m
e; w
ashe
d aw
ayor
bur
ied
in m
ud, t
heir
cove
nant
smas
hed
on th
e ro
cks,
he la
ughs
by
the
popp
ing
toas
ter—
this
eart
h is
all m
ine.
D. B
. Gom
an
With
Per
seph
He lo
ved
her r
ed h
air—
the
dyes
of H
.—cu
tsh
orte
r in
the
heat
wav
es. S
he w
as h
otin
her
bat
h ro
be d
anci
ng fo
r the
cur
sed
like
him
; her
mot
her w
as si
ck, h
ard
loav
esof
salty
bre
ad m
ould
y on
the
coun
ter e
ver
since
she
le ;
her f
athe
r in
the
clou
ds c
hase
dsw
ans t
o rid
e. T
his w
as h
is de
scen
t, st
rings
reso
nant
, gui
ding
to h
er to
rch
and
his t
ears
whe
n he
pla
yed
her h
is bl
ues o
n an
ele
ctric
guita
r; he
had
to lo
ok b
ack
whe
n he
got
up-
stai
rs, h
er li
zard
tong
ue fi
ring
crac
ked
skul
ls.
Ligh
tnin
g sp
lit h
er d
own
the
mid
dle,
usin
gpo
meg
rana
te se
eds a
s birt
h co
ntro
l in
the
base
men
t whe
re h
er fu
rnac
e br
ande
dhi
s han
ds so
he
coul
dn’t
touc
h an
othe
r; he
r ch
ildre
n w
ere
sprin
g fo
r a tr
ibe
ovul
a n
gfo
r not
hing
, fer
lity
mas
ks fu
nny
at a
moo
n,en
dang
ered
of e
a n
g th
eir o
wn
bloo
d, e
xo-
skel
eton
s bre
akin
g in
the
slash
-and
-bur
nrit
uals
thre
aten
ing
his b
acky
ard,
its p
lum
san
d ch
errie
s rip
e fo
r can
ning
. Wild
fl ow
ers
he a
te ra
w so
he’
d ha
ve c
olor
in th
e da
rk,
brea
thin
g sm
oke
and
ash
for a
tart
retu
rnto
her
bar
ren
beau
ty w
hen
the
bulb
s boi
led
cold
whi
te a
t her
feet
; bra
cke
ng
him
—br
iefl y
—
with
her
toes
he
gave
up
play
ing
to k
ill p
laci
dM
orph
eus f
orev
er so
he
coul
d w
ear h
is fa
cean
d sle
ep d
own
ther
e in
all
the
embe
r sea
sons
.