The Last Time I Cried
Was when I was watching Misty Copeland dance “The Nutcracker” on mute, As I listened to “The Point of No Return” by Immortal Technique. It was simply beautiful. What…
It’s Important I Remember That There Are Several Ways to Kill Houseplants—
watering too much. Watering too little. Not providing enough sunlight or providing too much. Letting cold air overcome them. With concern pitched at the right octave, the green, gangly…
It’s Important I Remember That I Can Never Wash My Hands Enough—
our most tender overtures toward each other have turned against us, targeted us for shortness of breath and breadth of lifespan. When I tell you it’s dead outside, I…
We’ll Play to an Empty Room, Eli Tells Us
Ten till showtime this old friend of yours takes us backstage to meet the band and strum a few verses, hoping to stall till a crowd shows up, and…
Birds Again
in memory of my student, 2000-2019 After last spring’s surprise grackle attack and the autumn squirrels’ burgling acrobatics I almost didn’t fill the feeders this year. …
Smokestack
Sometimes I think the gods want something else. Enough with the libations, they might cry (if it weren’t for the prohibition on two-way speech). Don’t gore that ox on…
Vírgen Abridera de Allariz, 13th Century
Open me. Split me down the seam that stretches just above my collar bones to my navel and down to the seam of my hem. Divide me and you…
A Fountain
On a warm spring that gorged on soil, spewed tornadoes like seeds, I painted my nails blue, the color of Alice’s dress, and cycled at night to the older…
I Wanted to Be a Boy
Because I want to be a wolf; because the earth smells of sinew and green. Because his hair was made of corn dust and cloud and I wanted to…