Poetry — February 28, 2012 13:10 — 0 Comments

After The Party Pantoum – Rachel Kessler

 

Working that walk so hard it hurts,
it hurts, walking home in someone else’s high heels.
You were who you were before you came here –
a small animal, wandering, a drink in your hand.

It hurts, walking home in someone else’s high heels
so leave them by the road, a small monument to failure, leave them
to the curious small animal. Wonder – what was in that drink?
Work that barefoot walk in the rain.

Left the road for a small moment.  Failed to leave
when, clearly, you’d had enough.
Work that barefoot walk in the rain
while you run through every stupid thing you said and did.

Clearly, you’d had enough –
enough to walk right up to him and
run through every stupid thing you said and did
and then apologize.

Enough!  Walk right up to him and
give him a great big kiss
and then apologize
for bringing the party.

So you kissed him.  Great.
You were who you were before you came here.
You brought the party and now you’re
working that walk so hard it hurts.

Bio:

The seeds for AFTER THE PARTY PANTOUM were planted in Seattle in Rachel’s writing group, which consists of her, Rebecca Hoogs, Jason Whitmarsh and Kevin Craft. She co-founded Typing Explosion with Sierra Nelson, and the Vis-a-Vis Society with Nelson and Sara-Paul Ocampo. Both groups are literary performance art collaborations in Seattle. Her poems have appeared in Tin House, TATE magazine, and USA Today.

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What am I?

Bioluminescent eye
That sees by the shine
Of its own light. Lies

Blind me. I am the seventh human sense
And my stepchild,
Consequence;

Scientists can't find me.

Januswise I make us men;
Glamour
Was my image then—

Remind me:

The awful fall up off all fours
From the forest
To the hours…

Tick, Tock: Divine me.

-- Richard Kenney