The Brothers
Mr. Harley was one of those fun, quirky uncles who filled a room, except he wasn’t family. He was always at our house. I can clearly picture him perched up on dad’s ladder, a roll-your-own smoke dangling from his bottom lip,…
MY MOTHER’S SCARVES
Blue paisley when she feels humble Green polka dots when the beauty parlor is closed Stars and stripes for the Fourth Red and green for Yuletide Magenta for seducing the department chair Navy blue for telling my father it never happened…
Yes, Please
darling dare me to share my craving held close fluid in dreams help me darling exonerate my whisper of denial cajole the eros restrained under your jurisdiction I will submit revelling reaching touching divine deliverance this wish will come true I…
Once Written
There are times when I want to take facts and change them. I want to take the life around me, and in me, and turn it into a story. I want to rewind, and cut and splice. Leave some parts out…
Why Female Fireflies Fake Death
She walks to the deli to get some lunch. She will get catcalled, but she’ll pretend she hasn’t heard it. Her pace and heartbeat will increase with every additional comment, the unwanted attention crawling up her legs like an invisible hand.…
Bisque Dismemberment
They burn her bedding the day she dies, garments, a bonfire while the household cries. Fabric cloth, linen, scarletina touched, servants collect — await a doll that’s clutched, static — protected, grandmother’s arms, bisque infant fevers cannot harm, Agatha, grey glass…
Blue-Aged Love
I search for you like a lost lover of jazz, I find you in the dim as you play a deceiver of love, where love is never free prices to pay at every bank vault. Waiting for musical clouds to form…
I Was Told to Ignore the Abuse
They told me to ignore the words you said, “Don’t let him get to you. Try a different way of being. Be different; let him know you want him. He is just frightened of commitment. He will calm down soon.” I started…