From Claire de Lune
Part One
1.
I am your moon.
You are my light.
2.
Little moon girl, sitting in the pool
O ball, in and out of the water
O kindness, o gentleness
crow, no raven, sitting …
Poetry
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What They Said
“What are you reading?” she asked,
from behind an orange mask.
In the past, I would have smiled,
responded cordially about this book,
only this pandemic has changed me.
My intolerance has grown, like
an overdue …
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Large Print Poetry
You direct my eyes
to the yellow door of the bookshop.Help me when I ask. Don’t just pull me …
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The Palls
after Tommye Blount’s ‘The Suit’
Rookie, this shift blows–still, wear your tie, though
in time you’ll goddamn the Southside. Lord knowsI’ve spilled …
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Ritual
Six girls in as many months. Talk of Ouija boards, a ghost hand lifting them in turn to rope. How else could they read the air and think …
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Departure from Saline River
‘I’m sorry. I haven’t done this before
and I’m quite nervous,’ he said,
folding himself into the suitcase.‘Don’t worry,’ she said, ‘Take your time.
The whole town’s come to see … -
what the women are doing
for Elaine Feeney
while we watch our movies sunk in beanbags
the women
are talking without pause of blocked guts
ladling food into handbags
where it settles in … -
In Pasadena
Midnight once he stood me
by the door of our refrigerator
open, like a wedge of cheese in darkness,a milk glass in my hand,
he yelled, he … -
Sneaking Your Dead Body into Mexico
Mexico lindo y querido, muero lejos de ti, que digan que estoy
dormido, y que me traigan aqui.
—song by Jorge Negrete
Let the sky flip and shake …
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Notes from El Valle Megamart
1.
Sister Juanita buys cherry flavored
Lip gloss for the girls
Apple bubble gum for the boys
The lord’s prayer
Smells like a fruit stand
Under the summer sun
Across … -
Arrival
By throat is how we arrived
A cradle in voice
A passion & command
By hands is how we arrivedA touch
Skin rising, cringing,
Churning of a …
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Flashes
Very soon, and in pleasant company.
—Chinese fortuneIn a race for a tree, one Mexican soccer player almost beat the rain,
only to be met at the …