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| Johann von Tscharner, "The Resting One" (1924) |
For years I have seen
dead animals on the highway
and grieved for them
only to realize they are
not dead animals
they are t shirts
or bits of blown tire
and I have found
myself with this
excess of grief
I have made with
no object to let
it spill over and
I have not known
where to put it or
keep it and then today
I thought I know
I can give it to you
Heather Christle. Mistake en Poem-a-Day, September 18, 2017. Academy of American Poets
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| Utagawa Kunisada, "Black" (1847-1852) |
They asked me if I was on fire and I said No no no no
no no no I did not want to make trouble I was lying I was
on fire on my legs and on my hands I was ashamed I tried
to hide my legs by kneeling I set the grass on fire The colors
were a pleasant green and orange combination I liked it and smoke
I was not in pain or on pain I was on fire and lying why
to the people Obviously they loved me were warm and pink
and vocal on a promising spring day with electric buds Electrifying
I mean I mean bright bright bright like a likeness of me I wanted
to gnaw and to gnaw on an extra large slice of my likeness
Heather Christle (1980). Columbia Poetry Review, no. 23, 2010. Chicago: Columbia College Chicago.
