Laurin Jefferson

Masters of the Cante Jondo

Peter Gizzi

They were beside me,
they sat in black taffeta, in veils, leather chaps,
felt hats, lace. “Closer” they call, “closer.”

Particulars of My Ordinary Life

Duane Esposito

I spend the day
lamenting & shaking,

quite sad, wasted
 for the entire human potential.

from Fort

Standard Schaefer

recited the Lord’s prayer and was hired
to the town to take the pledge
to the honky tonk to take exception

Black Horses in White Envelopes

Michael Burkard

1 Boxes of meaning.
20 Little books about fire.
3
Kim’s drawing:
“Mask” in bed–“I don’t want
dad to know I’m afraid of
anything.”

PASTORAL INTERLUDE Our patient sleeping at last, I have come out into the garden bringing this novel with me: I do not think they will think of looking for me here, and I shall be able, perhaps, in these stolen moments, to get down, on the copyright page or the blank flyleaf or crushed in the margins, my impressions of recent events and order my all-too-scattered thoughts. It is crucial I think clearly, I know that, now more than ever, and yet my mind will stray . . . ; how tall these walls of green are!

The Queen

Melissa Huseman

Once upon a time there was a queen, but she didn’t have anything, any chairs.
She didn’t have any books.
She didn’t have any children.
All she had was a coat and a crown.