Kathryn Jacobs
The Nature of Walls
Unless you're wary, walls accumulate;
it's what they're good at. You can move a lot,
in which case little ones will decorate
the landscape randomly, and trip you up.
Or you can just stay put and contemplate
how safe they make you feel, and if you ought
to fight for windows, because once you stop
you'll never get them back. Or you could climb
until they try for ceilings, which they will.
And you can leave, as long as there's a door.
But if you wait too long, there comes a time
there's only brick, and then you can explore
the sundry shades of brown while life stands still
and nobody can find you anymore—
Trafficking*
Eleven babies in a biscuit box,
one box per baby. Sold in bulk like sweets,
though boys cost extra, and delivery
cannot be guaranteed:
a biscuit-box
is just the size for babies. Coffin-shaped
if shipments don't work out, and nicely stacked
no matter what; they can be corded and
nobody crushes biscuits, so the box
is generally un-collapsible;
I recommend it. Boys are extra though
(I think I said that once). It's three for one
because supply is uncooperative;
we'd like to make adjustments.
Officer?
No sir; they're only biscuits—
* After reading Reuters
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The most recent addition to The Mezzo Cammin Women Poets Timeline is Etel Adnan by Joyce Wilson.
Save the date: A Celebration of the Timeline reaching 75 essays. Lincoln Center, Fordham University (Sponsored by Fordham's Curran Center) Friday, October 20th, 7 p.m.
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