Catherine Esposito Prescott, Accidental Garden

Currency

The guru says observe silence

to unfold the divine

peace of the mind. Ancient load bearers,

women perch coiled in rope, coiled in metal,

coiled in dress, women with words piled

in their throats, words stopped from flying out

by coins placed like wafers in their mouths—

women’s words no longer for curing,

for cursing. This is how a woman saves

her currency, alters sacrament. They sit, eyelids folded,

gaze internal. I picture unspoken words

charging their bodies like the light of stars.

Inside, each churns, each travels

into the planetarium of the stilled

mind. The mind, the guru says, is a map

of the universe. The women sit

holding their silence tall,

their unspoken, a universe.

Further details

Etheridge Knight, The Lost Etheridge

O Elizabeth

Woman of my wanderings — 

Wife of my comings and goings —

Sister of my rap and rhyme,

I thank thee, goode Giver,

for the gift of Time and Tenderness,

You bless my 58th year, tho

I be / here / in this Domain

of Death and Excellent Pain

I languish. I suffer. I exalt — 

Do you still love me? Is —

my smoke still in your 

fire? How can you love me?

Me: liar cheater and dirty

mistreater / I love you

I, man of the high step

and the long-laugh.

Despite the rocks and

shoals and silver water

falls, our rivers flow

together. Who knows

what the weather / will 

be tomorrow, We row

for sunshine, not storm,

We row for joy not sorrow

Further details

Caridad Moro-Gronlier, Tortillera

Waiting to Be Discharged from the Maternity Ward

Consider the eyes of a boy who has the heart

to cram a Black Cat firecracker down the throat of a gecko.

Consider his hands, the giddy rush as he tries

and tries to light the match that will ice his blood.

Consider his laughter, the sound of explosion,

the slivers of lizard that land in his hair.

Consider my son, hours old, bruised

from the battle of breaking away from me

as I consider how to keep him

from stealing my lighter, from sneaking out back,

my love in his pocket,

M-80 in his hand.

Further details