Thewormcanturn

Thewormcanturn
Haventyouheard?
Whenyouthinkuponit
Itseemsabsurd.
Wormscanturnnear,
Wormscanturnfar,
Itreallydepends
Onwheretheyare.
Wormsareturning
Everywhere.
Onemightbeturning
Inyourhair.
Wormsinanapple
Findturninghell:
Causeapplesarehard,
Theycantturnverywell.

Ishallnotcomparetheetoasummersday
Twasahotsummersday,
Weweremerryandgay,
Playingcricketwithtadpolesandstraw.
Then,asIwasbowledout
Withtheheadofatrout,
Weheardafeintknockatthedoor.
Thedogsgaveabark
Andwethoughtitalark
Asthedoorwasnowheretobeseen.
Sotheyranroundinsquares
Atthetopofthestairs,
Chasingalimabean.
Weallstoodaghast
Asacrumpetflewpast,
Unbutteredandnoteventoasted.
Andthereonthefloor
Laidanunderweardrawer

WithaletterIdalreadyposted.
Bymidafternoon,
Withtheaidofaspoon,
Wehadwhittledaboatoutofcheese.
Fortherestoftheday
Weplayedbridgethewrongway,
Andwalkedonourhandsandknees.

DaddyFlingsCatPoo
EverySaturday,aroundquaterpasttwo,
Daddygrabsashovelandflingscatpoo.
Outinthegardeniswherehegoes,
Huntingoutthebitsofpoohethrows.
Daddysayscatsarehorriblethings
Theymakethepoothatdaddyflings.
Theculpritsarethecatsnextdoor
Theyusedtohavethreecats,butnowtheyvefour.
Daddywontletmegooutsideandplay
Untilallthecatpooisthrownaway.
Heflingsitallovernextdoorsfence:
Welltheircatsmadeit,sothatmakessense.

ThingsthatIlove
TherearethingsthatIlove,
AndsomeIlovemost,
Likethesoundofaglove
Orthesmellofaghost,
Snowmenonfire,
Freedomimposed,
Andbucketsofbarnacles
Shippedtothecoast.
TherearethingsthatIlove,
Thatgivemedelight,
Likewhelksonacarpet,
Andponiesatnight,
Poorlyfedpeacocks
Thatleantotheright,
Andflies,waspsandbumblebees
Havingafight.
TherearethingsthatIlove,

Thatmakemefeelgreat,
Likewalrusesflying,
Ahouseonaplate,
Shrewsholdingspatulas,
Trainsthatarentlate,
Andsealtoebandages
Justoutofdate.

Odetotheeatenpigeon
Behold,howsmallapigeonis
Heisbutoughttothee.
Andyet,ifthouweretbutanant,
Giganticheshouldbe.
Andthou,thenfearingforthylife,
Intothegroundshouldflee.
Andyet,perchance,ifthouweretslow,
Thepigeonshouldeatthee!
Alas!Howterriblethyfate,
Imprisonedinapigeonscrop.
Andthenwhenerethytimehadcome,
Intohisbellythoushouldstdrop.
Uponthesethoughtsnowspendawhile,
Andknowthoushouldst,withoutregret,
Bejoyful,yea,anddonotmourn
Forthepigeonthouhastate.

DeepintheQuietWood
JamesWeldonJohnson,18711928

Areyouboweddowninheart?
Doyoubutheartheclashingdiscordsandthedinoflife?
Thencomeaway,cometothepeacefulwood,
Herebatheyoursoulinsilence.Listen!Now,
Fromoutthepalpitatingsolitude
Doyounotcatch,yetfaint,elusivestrains?
Theyareabove,around,withinyou,everywhere.
Silentlylisten!Clear,andstillmoreclear,theycome.
Theybubbleupinripplingnotes,andswellinsingingtones.
Nowletyoursoulrunthewholegamutofthewondrousscale
Until,responsivetothetonicchord,
IttouchesthediapasonofGodsgrandcathedralorgan,
Fillingearthforyouwithheavenlypeace
Andholyharmonies.

PlasticCookie
CateMarvin,1969

Likeateapot,Imtippedtospillfrommykettlesnout

somesilvertears,thesefewdropsthatglowanddrip

theirarrowsdownintothegroundfromoffmyeyes

andnose.Iwasgoingtosendbacktheplasticcookie

fallenfromyourdaughtersfalsestove,herpretend

kitchenette,intothenetcompartmentthatopensup

beneathmydaughtersstrollerwhenitspinkflower

isbrokenopen,whichIdiscovereduponlandingin

Newark,topushmynervydaughteralongbright

airportcorridorssothatwemightbereunitedwith

ourluggage.Myorangesuitcasepopsitsatrocityout

fromthatmysterymouththatspillsontothemetallic

finsthatspoolaround,andIruntoclutchatit,heave

itsweight.Yet,justyesterday,itsatfatinyourroom,

contentssprung:underwear,diapers.Thebothofus

fearfulforourrespectivedaughters,toodeep,perhaps,

inlovewithoursingulardaughters,drinkinglateinto

thenight,speakingofourdaughters.Earlier,furious

yourfearsomedaughterpulledherentireplastickitchen

down,crashedittothefloor,asiftopplingabookshelf

withthesimpletugofahand.Daughtersastonishing

daughters!Minewithherdishwashhair,plateeyes

fullofgrayblues,wantingtoplaywithyourdaughters

stove,theplastickettles,teacups.Stilllittle,wobbling

allovertheroom.Thendusksatitsfatassdownatlast.

Toourgreatrelief,wefoundourdaughtersdeepasleep,

andwerefreetodrinktherumofus,whichwas,asit

alwayshadbeen,agradualdrink.Andyouknowwhat

youknowwithyourhands,wishthenightblackersince

blackestisforever.WhodbelieveIdbedroppingsuch

bellsoftearsnow,tohearthemringinsidetheearththat

absorbsthem?Letusnothanddownthishistorytoour

daughters.Letsignorewhata
plasticcookie
meanstous,
orforthatmatterwhyyourdaughterhadoneinthefirst

place.Forgetyourdaughterspaleglareinthatdoorways

3a.m.:innocentuslyingunderneathandatoponeanother

onyourlousyfuton.
Denier,liar,totem.
Youdgivenme
aplasticcookie.
No
.Youandyourdaughtergavemeand
mydaughteraplasticcookie.Youcannotnowcomfortme.

Sodisownme.Thesoilisfree.Withinitlivesallthatmatters.

Oneday,Illseeyoudownthere.Daughterfree.

Alone
EDGARALLANPOE
FromchildhoodshourIhavenotbeen
AsotherswereIhavenotseen
AsotherssawIcouldnotbring
Mypassionsfromacommonspring
FromthesamesourceIhavenottaken
MysorrowIcouldnotawaken
Myhearttojoyatthesametone
AndallIlovd
I
lovdalone
Then
inmychildhoodinthedawn
Ofamoststormylifewasdrawn
Fromevrydepthofgoodandill
Themysterywhichbindsmestill
Fromthetorrent,orthefountain
Fromtheredcliffofthemountain
Fromthesunthatroundmerolld
Initsautumntintofgold
Fromthelightninginthesky
Asitpassdmeflyingby
Fromthethunder,andthestorm
Andthecloudthattooktheform
(WhentherestofHeavenwasblue)
Ofademoninmyview

TheManHeKilled
THOMASHARDY

HadheandIbutmet

Bysomeoldancientinn,

Weshouldhavesatusdowntowet

Rightmanyanipperkin!

Butrangedasinfantry,

Andstaringfacetoface,

Ishotathimasheatme,

Andkilledhiminhisplace.

Ishothimdeadbecause

Becausehewasmyfoe,

Justso:myfoeofcoursehewas

Thatsclearenoughalthough

Hethoughthedlist,perhaps,

OffhandlikejustasI

Wasoutofworkhadsoldhistraps

Nootherreasonwhy.

Yesquaintandcuriouswaris!

Youshootafellowdown

Youdtreatifmetwhereanybaris,

Orhelptohalfacrown.

Wheels
Mybrotherkept
inaframeonthewall
picturesofeverymotorcycle,car,truck:
inhisrustedoutImpalaconvertible
wearinghiscapandgown
waving
inhisyellowBarracuda
withagirlleaningintohim
waving
onhisHonda350
waving
onhisHonda750withtheboys
holdingabeer
waving
inhisfirstrig
wearingabaseballhatbackwards
waving
inhisMercuryMontego
gettingmarried
waving
inhisblackLTD
tryingtosellrealestate
waving
backtodrivingtrucks
ashinynewrig
waving
onhisHarleySportster
withhiswifeontheback
waving
hissoninacarseat
withhisownsteeringwheel
mybrotherleaningoverhim
inanoldFordpickup
andtheyare
waving
holdingawrencharag
ahoseashammy
waving.

Mybrotherhelmetless
ridesoffonhisHarley
waving

mybrother'sfeet
rarelytouchtheground
wavingwaving
facepressedtothewind
nocameratosavehim.

JimDaniels

TheBat
Bydaythebatiscousintothemouse.
Helikestheatticofanaginghouse.

Hisfingersmakeahatabouthishead.
Hispulsebeatissoslowwethinkhimdead.

Heloopsincrazyfigureshalfthenight
Amongthetreesthatfacethecornerlight.

Butwhenhebrushesupagainstascreen,
Weareafraidofwhatoureyeshaveseen:

Forsomethingisamissoroutofplace
Whenmicewithwingscanwearahumanface.

TheodoreRoethke

TheSummerIWasSixteen
Theturquoisepoolroseuptomeetus,
itsslideasilverafterthoughtdownwhich
weplunged,screaming,intoamirageofbubbles.
Wedidnotexistbeyondthegazeofaboy.

Shakingwateroffourlimbs,welifted
upfromladderrungsacrosstheferncool
lipofrim.Afternoon.Oiledandsated,
wesunbathed,roseandparadedtheconcrete,

dancedtothelowbeatof"DukeofEarl".
Pastcherrycolas,hotdogs,Dreamsicles,
wecametothecounterwherebeesstaggered
intorootbeercupsanddrowned.Wegobbled

cottoncandytorches,sweetasfurtivekisses,
sharedonbenchesbeneathsummershadows.
Cherry.Elm.Sycamore.Wespreadourchenille
blanketsacrossgrass,pressedradiostoourears,

mouthingtheoldwords,thenloosened
thinbikinistrapsandrubbedbabyoilwithiodine
acrosssunburnedshoulders,tossingaglance
throughthechainlinkatanimprobableworld.

GeraldineConnolly

Radio
Noradio
incar

Noradioonboard

Noradio
Alreadystolen

Absolutelynoradio!

Radiobroken
Alarmisset
Togooff

Noradio
Nomoney

Noradio
novaluables

Noradioor
valuables
incarortrunk

Noradio
Stolen3X

Noradio
Emptytrunk
Emptyglovecompartment
Honest

Incar
Nothingofvalue

Noradio
Nonuthin
(nokidding)

RadioBroken
NothingLeft!

RadioGone
NoteHoleinDashboard

Warning!
RadioWillNotPlay
WhenRemoved
SecurityCodeRequired

Wouldyoukeep
Anythingvaluable
Inthiswreck?

Novaluables
Inthisvan

Pleasedonot
Breakin
Unnecessarily

Thankyou
Foryourkind
Consideration

Nothingofvalue
incar
Noradio
Notapes
Notelephone

LaurelBlossom

ThePoetryofBadWeather
Someonehadproppedaskateboard
bythedooroftheclassroom,
tomakequickhisescape,comethebell.

ForitwasFebruaryinFlorida,
theairofinstructionthickwithtanningbutter.
Why,mystudentswondered,

didthegreatdeadpoetsalllivenorthofus?
Wastherenothingtodoallwinterthere
butpineforbetterweather?

Hadweawindow,theclasscouldkeepaneye
ontheclockandyetwatchthewildplum
nodwiththeabsentgraceoftheyoung.

Wecouldstudytheshowyscatterofpetals.
Wecould,forwantofabetterword,callitsnowy.
Theroomfilledwithstillness,flakebyflake.

Onlythedullroarofairforcedtospenditslifeindoors
couldbeheard.Noteventhesongbird
ofacellphonechirped.Gohome,

Iwantedtotellthehorseonthepage.
Youknowtheway,eveninsnow
gonebluewithcold.

DeboraGreger

DomesticWork,1937
Allweekshe'scleaned
someoneelse'shouse,
stareddownherownface
intheshineofcopper
bottomedpots,polished
wood,toiletsshe'dpull
thelidtothatlooksaying

Let'smakeachange,girl.

ButSundaymorningsarehers
churchclothesstarched
andhanging,arecordspinning
ontheconsole,thewholehouse
dancing.Sheraisestheshades,
washestheroomsinlight,
bucketsofwater,Octagonsoap.

Cleanlinessisnexttogodliness...

Windowsanddoorsflungwide,
curtainstwostepping
forwardandback,neckbones
bumpinginthepot,achoir
ofclothesclappingontheline.

NearermyGodtoThee...

Shebeatstimeontherugs,
blowsdustfromthebroom
likedandelionspores,eachone
awishforsomethingbetter.

NatashaTrethewey