tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26899840128079134252024-02-20T06:24:20.558-08:00The Gravedigger's Son Donal MahoneyThe Camel Saloonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17466326145539153263noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2689984012807913425.post-64487749920810696982011-08-20T14:45:00.001-07:002011-10-30T13:25:21.656-07:00<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Honey Room</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
Brother Al, in his hood, </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">is out in his field</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">making love to his bees.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">From my room I can see him </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">move through his hives</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">the way people should move</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">among people.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">The bees give him gold and the gold </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">turns orange in the jars </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">that he sells in a room </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">near the door of the abbey.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">The Honey Room, everyone calls it.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Besides Brother Al, only I</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">go into that room full of honey.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">I go in there and bend </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">and look through the jars</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">on the shelves and the sills</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">till there in the orange I see Sue </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">standing straight </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">in a field of her own </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">with a smile </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">for our garland of children.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><b><span style="font-size: large; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 25.0pt; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">In Break Formation</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 19.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">The indications used to come</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 19.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">like movie fighter planes in break</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 19.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">formation, one by one, the perfect</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 19.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">plummet, down and out. This time they’re</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 19.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">slower. But after supper, when I hear her </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 19.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">in the kitchen hum again, hum higher, </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 19.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">higher, till my ears are numb, </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 19.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">I remember how it was</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 19.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">the last time: how she hummed</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 19.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">to Aramaic peaks, flung</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 19.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">supper plates across the kitchen</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 19.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">till I brought her by the shoulders</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 19.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">humming to the chair.</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 19.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">I remember how the final days</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 19.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">her eyelids, operating on their own,</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 19.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">rose and fell, how she strolled</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 19.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">among the children, winding tractors,</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 19.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">hugging dolls, how finally</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 19.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">I phoned and had them come again, </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 19.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">how I walked behind them</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 19.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">as they took her by the shoulders,</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 19.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">house dress in the breeze, slowly</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 19.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">down the walk and to the curbing,</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 19.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">how I watched them bend her </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 19.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">in the back seat of the squad again,</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 19.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">how I watched them pull away</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 19.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">and heard again the parliament</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 19.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">of neighbors talking.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; 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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b><span style="font-size: large; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">McDiver’s Creek</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">Autumn’s over.</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">Wheatcake odors flood the wood</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">front porch. Andrew Block,</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">in mackinaw and overalls,</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">tamps first tobacco of the day</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">and estimates his morning.</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">In an open field beyond McDiver’s Creek</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">a colt, palomino apricot and snow, </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">nips grass between great gallops </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">and the shock of trees.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">New Girl</b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">Light ambrosia of the sun</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">is over all of her.</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">She is shy</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">the way the flicker</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">pink of rabbit eye</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">is shy. Within the</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">almond hair, cliffs</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">of cheek round in, where</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">unifies her chin.</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">There, two birds meet</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"> </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">before </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">they carry out her smile.</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">That Greyhound Station</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">This woman</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">I am interviewing,</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">one of her front teeth</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">crosses over the other </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">and sticks out like a leg </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">crossed over the other.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Otherwise I would hire her; </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">I am certain of that. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">But she reminds me too much</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">of that Greyhound station</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">at three in the morning. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">There, alone on a bench, </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">across from me still,</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">her little dress up, </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">skulls of bare knees, </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">hillbilly child waiting.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">The Man Who Lives in the Gym</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><i><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldItalicMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">St. Procopius College</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><i><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldItalicMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">Lisle, Illinois</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><i><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldItalicMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">after World War II</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">The man who lives in the gym</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">sleeps in a nook up the stairs</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">to the rear. Since Poland </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">he's slept there, his tools</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">bright in a box locked </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">under his bed. At noon bells</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">call him down to the stones</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">that weave under oaks to the abbey</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">where he at long table takes </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">meals with the others </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">the monks have let in </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">for a week, or a month, or a year</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">or forever, whatever </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">the need. The others all know</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">that in Poland his wife</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">had been skewered, his children</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">partitioned, that he had escaped</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">in a freight car of hams.</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">So when Brother brings in, on a gun</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">metal tray, orange sherbet for all</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">in little green dishes,</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">they blink at his smile,</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">they join in his laughter. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Those Poems, That Fire</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">I stood in the alley, still</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">in pajamas, somebody’s shoes,</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">another man’s coat, my eyes</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">on the bronc of the hoses.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Squawed in the blankets of neighbors, </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">my wife and three children sipped</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">chocolate, stood orange and still.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Of the hundred or more I had stored </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">in a drawer, I could remember,</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">comma for comma, no more than four,</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">none of them final,</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">all of them fetal.<br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Love Is Another Thing</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Sitting at the table</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">spinning the creamer </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">running her fingers through sugar</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">the kids spilled at supper, Sue</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">suddenly says, “Don, </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">love is another thing.” </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Since love is another thing </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">I have to go rent a room, </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">leave behind eight years, </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">five kids, the echoes of me</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">raging at noon on the phone, </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">raging at night, the mist</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">of whose fallout ate her skin, </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">ate her bones, left her a kitten </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">crying high in an oak</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">let me free, let me free <br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><b><span style="font-size: large; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">Love and Slaughter</span></b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 19.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">Sheep are</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 19.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"> </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">by a goat while</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">cattle are like swine, prodded, yet </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">cattle go by hammer while</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">swine are by the hind leg hung</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">then swung about to spigot.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">Quicker, infinitely cleaner, is</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">the hacksaw of sweet Susan’s laughter.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Mop Woman</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Near dwarf this woman. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Foreign born. Minsk,</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">perhaps. Nose </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">a fist. Hair</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">a whisk broom</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">only black. Her back</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">an Orthodox cupola, </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">her arms braids of gym rope</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">lowered to the floor.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Orangutans could climb </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">those ropes, hand</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">over hand, no rose</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">no purple </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">doughnuts </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">on their hinds.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Near dwarf this woman.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Foreign born. Minsk,</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">perhaps.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Her hands, all gristle, </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">hang an inch, no more,</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">above her shining floor.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Mingle</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Tomorrow morning when I wake </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">it’ll be the nurse who’s crazy.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">I’ll heave my body up</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">on its elbows and yell</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">in her ear, “It’s time for your pill.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Get dressed. Breakfast is ready</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">in the Day Room. Juice, rolls, bacon, eggs. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">You’ll find a tray with your name on it,</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">faces you know, a chance for conversation.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Eat each meal at a different table.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Mingle. Before you can get out of here,</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">you have to love all the faces you hate.”</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b><span style="font-size: large; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">Lines for a Female Psychiatrist</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">Perhaps when I’m better I’ll discover</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">you aren’t married, after all,</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">and I should be better by Spring.</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">On that day I’ll walk</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">down Michigan Avenue</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">and up again along the Lake,</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">my back to the wind, facing you,</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">my black raincoat buttoned to the neck,</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">my collar a castle wall</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">around my crew cut growing in.</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">Do you remember the first hour?</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">I sat there unshaven,</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">a Martian drummed from his planet,</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">ordered never to return.</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">With your legs crossed, </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">you smoked the longest cigarette</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">and blinked like a child when I said,</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">“I’m distracted by your knee.”</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">The first six months you smoked</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">four cigarettes a session</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">as I prayed out my litany of escapades,</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">each detail etched perfectly in place.</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">The day we finally changed chairs </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">and I became the patient </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">and you the doctor,</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">you knew that I didn’t know</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">where I had been, </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">where I was then,</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">and even though my hair </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">had begun to grow in</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">how far I'd have to go </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">before I could begin. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">My Fiance Visits My Father’s House</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">The two Gibraltars in the yard</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">never were delivered.</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">They have always been there.</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">The twenty years I lived there</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">the neighbors never said a word.</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">Their shrieks would shatter both</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">if they could see them.</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">The redwood fence my father built</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">is tall enough to cover his.</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">It will be tall enough, he swears,</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">in time to cover mine.</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">My father says before he dies</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">he’ll sell his own Gibraltar</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">and leave the house, the yard,</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">the redwood fence to me</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">to guarantee that I keep mine.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Poem for Mother, Poem for Dad</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">They weren’t talking at all, back then.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Deep in that house, conceiving their dwarfs,</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">they weren’t talking at all, back then.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">And they’re not talking at all, right now.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Still in that house, rearing their dwarfs,</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">they’re not talking at all, right now.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">And they won’t be talking again.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">When the dwarfs break out they’ll stay in that house,</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">not moving, not talking again.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Whole and Steaming</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">Dingle, Ireland</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">The bathroom carpet,</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">wall to wall, is blue,</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">the lightest blue,</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">to complement</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">the bowl and ceiling.</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">Apropos the moment: </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">I bend the waist</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">and heave the gristle</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">from last evening's steak.</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">Tomorrow I shall row again</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">to see those ancient men</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">in caps and coveralls</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">stand like statues</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">while they talk</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">and tap gold embers</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">from clay pipes</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">forever glowing. </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">I'll go there</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">at the dinner hour</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">and see them once again</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">fork potatoes,</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">whole and steaming,</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">from big kettles filled</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">at dawn by crones</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">forever kerchiefed</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">and forever bent.</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">At dawn you hear </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">these women</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">sing their hymns</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">like seraphim</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldItalicMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">a cappella</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">as they genuflect and dip</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">big black kettles</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">in the sometimes still</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">sometimes foaming sea.</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Memories</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">If one could store them</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">in the attic without stir </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">and turn to other things,</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">to picking fruit, perhaps,</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">or seeding it, one could afford</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">the dalliance of an hour</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">for one would have the years</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">one knows will not be those</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">whose paralytic youth has just begun,</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">the years whose summer plea</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">for laughter and for kiss </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">somersault the hair </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">and scimitar the smile: the years</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">the sun, the moon, the stars</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">can never order stop.<br />
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</div>The Camel Saloonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17466326145539153263noreply@blogger.com6