“Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything.” —Genesis 9:3 It started in the yard.One day the sourwood called out to me like a loaf of bread,like mountain manna. The baby took from me and left me wanting:Bark broken between teeth, Iwanted dirt heaped on my charity-shop china. I wanted …
says the Delta agent, so I condense, concentratingon making myself colder & smaller like the last tear hung from my chin as I leaned downto kiss you goodbye sister, yesterdayat your service.I will never forget your face, puzzled, on the satin pillow, nor the winceof its complex pleats. I will never forget your voicein the …
“These indeed seem, For they are actions that a man might play.” —Hamlet, 1.2.83–84 A man might bake biscuits, smoke meat A man might seek pizza in the a.m.As a way to suffocate a hunger With another shameA man might pet his catA man might be watching his wife Fade as slowly as possibleFrom this …
(Marc Caro and Jean-Pierre Jeunet, 1995) It sounds better in French—a language you don’t speak and one I barely understand, squinting to keep track of the subtitles in our fifth-floor walk-up on Amsterdam and 106th, where, as the tape shifts from supply to take up reel, you predict one day you’ll give birthto a son …
Alex, um, it’s dad, Michael, again. I’m waiting for Susan my wife to get here, we’re supposed to go to the, uh, dentist, she’s supposed to be here, I think. I don’t know what to do, call me again, I’m just so miserable being here alone wishing to be with you and [sigh] you know …
Congratulations. It’s Michael, it’s your father. I’m so proud, I’m so proud of you, and, wait ow, I just dropped something here, wait don’t leave. I, well, I heard the, Greg told me that, that you guys had the baby today, and umm, I’m very proud of you, I’m so proud of you, both of …
that the Green Power Ranger held to his mouth that was both dagger and flute Tommywould call to his zord in the ocean watch it rise from the watereach time the same clip was used the water lookedto be almost boiling as the zord rose swung its tail wideand this morning I wake to the …
Six days after the Titanic sank,the SS Bremen steamed into the same corridor of cold Atlantic waters.During breakfast, the crew began to sight white dots like seagulls on the waves.Their calls pulled the passengers awayfrom their coffee and strudel, brought them to the deck where at first they squinted, then recoiled.Chunks of ice, broken planks …
we die. that’s always the answer. if things keep up as they do, I’m going to seal the whole world into a jell-o mold, I’m going to run down the street throwing ashes. my uterus will literally leave my body & probably assassinate someone, then we will both retreat to the wildernessas is the way …
I we love the taste of smoke. we fry meat in a shallow pan.keep the fat & render. keep the fat& clean out your mouth. make your tonguean altar to silence. we live in peaceful times. we can stay at home & wait it out.we can watch the fire, & it will stay fire:stay small …