THIS BODY
By Alice Lovelace
wind stalks the house
like a slum land lord
like a dream out of bed
like a hundred days in any hospital
a savior sick of cleaning behind others
evening falls
everything but everlasting is lifted
thick air in the sick room
heavy quilts, my body in pain
i remember camphor and anise
castor oil and goose grease
preserved in jelly jars
in the cool of the basement
my dreams are winters by the space heater
trips to the pharmacy
glistening bottles of oils, of tinctures
preparing home remedies
breathe deep, be healed
my life is small snaps like far away thunder
the stale pungent scent of grease
kept in a can on the stovetop
soy sauce in small packets
the baby sticky like rice balls
my dreams are of left-over snow
crisp and lingering
unleavened bread on my tongue
the taste of holiness
my mouth full yet dry
like the cake I once baked
when we had no sugar.
By Alice Lovelace
wind stalks the house
like a slum land lord
like a dream out of bed
like a hundred days in any hospital
a savior sick of cleaning behind others
evening falls
everything but everlasting is lifted
thick air in the sick room
heavy quilts, my body in pain
i remember camphor and anise
castor oil and goose grease
preserved in jelly jars
in the cool of the basement
my dreams are winters by the space heater
trips to the pharmacy
glistening bottles of oils, of tinctures
preparing home remedies
breathe deep, be healed
my life is small snaps like far away thunder
the stale pungent scent of grease
kept in a can on the stovetop
soy sauce in small packets
the baby sticky like rice balls
my dreams are of left-over snow
crisp and lingering
unleavened bread on my tongue
the taste of holiness
my mouth full yet dry
like the cake I once baked
when we had no sugar.
|
|