The Pianist
Władysław Szpilman in Warsaw
Music grows on wave crests.When the sails of sound are at half-mast,music breaks up into pebbles.Each soloist is a finger...
Change of Elevation
When we first moved here, birds—red-headed house finches, I believe,a family—twittering high up
in the blue spruce that hangsfrom the neighbor’s yard. You...
The Vision of Meribah
I Meribah,granddaughter of Amenemhat,beloved of Ishmael,recite my ancestors’ lessonsso that you, my child, may teach them to your own.
It is through...
Hollywood, Paris, Covid
We both had positive Covid tests aftercelebrating New Year’s Eve a few daysearlier. Her ex sent her a text saying hewasn't vaccinating...
Meuse I
Pron.: /ˈmjuz/
a depression leftin the grass, a shallowbowl, or profound,
a gap in the hedgethe hog trespassed, in otherwords, not the animal
but the space...
Remembrance
The sun sleepsIn the dirt, here.I am less smoke, more steam,The refreshing kind of bitter.
In the dirt, here,We’ll plant our feet and leave.The refreshing...
Suburban Spiritual
Someone plays “Amazing Grace”On a xylophone.Reverbs from the bombingsAdd percussion.
Unexpected heat drives many indoors,Even the crazy flying twin garage flags.Shadows hidden in showersBecome...
Red Tower
At this height, it looks lesslike defeated, more withstood.Summer’s hottest daysin dwindle, retreatinguntil the sameas any other battle foughtand survived. I believein victory,...
stars melt in your skin
for R.M
quiet nights held inside your hands like water waitingfor the chance to become your ladder.
you first reminisced, as if...
After William Carlos Williams
So much
De
Pends
Uponthe dazed chickens
Fraughtwith meltwater
Besidesthe demonic and menacing
Icecream truck
Thatcirculates the neighborhood
Withan off-key kilter tune:
(Davidsings-“ dee bee dee bee dee bee boop...
