2RV
23.4
(Sum
mer
201
9)
2Riv
erw
ww.
2Riv
er.o
rg74
74 D
rexe
l DR
• Un
iver
sity
City
• M
O •
631
30 •
USA
The
2Riv
er V
iew
23.4
(Sum
mer
201
9)
new
poe
ms
byB
ree
A. R
olfe
, Ish
anee
Cha
nda
Har
ley
Ana
stas
ia C
hapm
an, C
harle
s Fi
nnSu
san
L. L
eary
, Cam
eron
Mor
seSa
rah
A. S
ousa
, Tra
vis
Step
hens
Tayl
or D
. War
ing,
Ric
hard
Wea
ver
Hol
lyw
ood
Bea
ch, F
lorid
a, a
nd P
alm
s ©
201
9 by
Jan
Mat
son
The
2Riv
er V
iew
, 23.
4 (S
umm
er 2
019)
Abo
ut 2
Rive
r
Sinc
e 19
96, 2
Rive
r has
bee
n a
site
of p
oetr
y an
d ar
t, qu
arte
rly p
ublis
hing
The
2Ri
ver V
iew
and
occ
asio
nally
pu
blis
hing
indi
vidu
al a
utho
rs in
the
2Riv
er C
hapb
ook
Serie
s. 2
Rive
r is
also
the
hom
e of
Mud
dy B
ank,
the
2Riv
er
blog
.
Rich
ard
Long
2Riv
er
ISSN
153
6-20
86w
ww
.2Ri
ver.o
rgw
ww
.mud
dyba
nk.o
rgw
ww
.face
book
.com
/2Ri
verP
oetr
y2r
iver
.tum
blr.c
omtw
itter
.com
/2w
eetR
iver
(@2w
eetR
iver
)
The
2Riv
er V
iew
23.4
(Sum
mer
201
9)
The
2Riv
er V
iew
, 23.
4 (S
umm
er 2
019)
Cont
ents
Bre
e A
. Rol
feA
lita
ny o
f bad
dec
isio
ns
Isha
nee
Cha
nda
The
Jour
ney
to th
e C
ente
r of t
he E
arth
Mirr
or
Har
ley
Ana
stas
ia C
hapm
anH
awkm
othe
rLi
fe S
tudy
Cha
rles
Finn
Mor
ning
Cof
fee
Som
ewhe
re
Color of Summer © 2019 by Jan Matson
Cam
eron
Mor
se is
the
auth
or o
f Fal
l Ris
k, w
on G
lass
Lyr
e Pr
ess’s
201
8 B
est B
ook
Aw
ard,
and
Fat
her M
e A
gain
(Spa
rtan
Pre
ss).
The
chap
book
Com
ing
Hom
e w
ith C
ance
ris
fort
hcom
ing
from
Blu
e Ly
ra P
ress
.
Bre
e A
. Rol
fe h
as a
ppea
red
in 5
AM
, Cho
rus:
A L
itera
ry
Mix
tape
, and
Red
pain
t Hill
Ant
holo
gy M
othe
r is
a Ve
rb.
Sara
h So
usa
is th
e au
thor
of S
ee th
e W
olf,
Split
the
Cro
wan
d C
hurc
h of
Nee
dles
and
of t
he c
hapb
ook
Yell.
Her
po
ems
have
app
eare
d in
the
Nor
th A
mer
ican
Rev
iew
, the
So
uthe
rn P
oetr
y Re
view
, and
Tup
elo
Qua
rter
ly, a
mon
g ot
hers
. She
is o
n th
e bo
ard
of d
irect
ors
of P
erug
ia P
ress
.
Trav
is S
teph
ens
is a
sea
cap
tain
who
resi
des
in C
alifo
rnia
. Re
cent
cre
dits
incl
ude
Ape
iron
Revi
ew,
Cirq
ue,
Cro
ssw
inds
Poe
try
Jour
nal,
Dea
d M
ule
Scho
ol o
f Sou
ther
n Li
tera
ture
, Gra
vita
s, S
outh
wor
d, S
tone
boat
Rev
iew
, and
Ti
ny S
eed
Lite
rary
Jou
rnal
.
Tayl
or D
. War
ing
play
s in
the
psyc
hede
lic s
ludg
e ba
nd
Mer
lock
. War
ing
is a
lso
the
Man
agin
g Ed
itor o
f Will
ow
Sprin
gs B
ooks
.
Rich
ard
Wea
ver i
s th
e au
thor
of T
he S
tars
Und
one
(Due
nde
Pres
s). H
is p
oem
s he
re in
2Ri
ver a
re fr
om a
co
llect
ion
base
d on
the fi n
al w
ords
of f
amou
s pe
ople
, so
me
of w
hich
hav
e ap
pear
ed in
Ade
laid
e, A
fter
the
Paus
e, a
nd L
och
Rave
n Re
view
.
The
2Riv
er V
iew
, 23.
4 (S
umm
er 2
019)
Abo
ut t
he A
utho
rs
Isha
nee
Cha
nda
is a
pro
se w
riter
and
poe
t with
pu
blic
atio
ns in
a n
umbe
r of j
ourn
als.
She
has
als
o w
ritte
n tw
o bo
oks
of p
oetr
y: O
h, t
hese
wal
ls, t
hey
crum
ble
and
Th
e O
verfl
ow
.
Har
ley
Ana
stas
ia C
hapm
an h
as a
ppea
red
or is
fort
hcom
ing
in C
olum
bia
Poet
ry R
evie
w, E
uphe
mis
m, N
ot V
ery
Qui
et,
Soun
ding
s Ea
st, a
nd S
tory
scap
e Jo
urna
l,
Cha
rles
Finn
is th
e ed
itor o
f the
lite
rary
and
fi ne
art
s m
agaz
ine
Hig
h D
eser
t Jou
rnal
and
aut
hor o
f Wild
Del
icat
e Se
cond
s: 2
9 W
ildlif
e En
coun
ters
(OSU
Pre
ss 2
012)
.
Susa
n L.
Lea
ry h
as a
ppea
red
in jo
urna
ls s
uch
as T
he
Chr
istia
n C
entu
ry, G
one
Law
n, a
nd In
to th
e Vo
id. H
er
chap
book
Thi
s G
irl, Y
our D
isci
ple
is fo
rthc
omin
g fro
m
Fini
shin
g Li
ne P
ress
.
A Walk in the Sun © 2019 by Jan Matson
Susa
n L.
Lea
ryM
y B
roth
er C
an S
ay S
ome
of th
e Pr
ettie
st T
hing
sTh
e C
lean
est S
heet
of I
ce
Cam
eron
Mor
seM
issi
ssip
pi S
inga
long
Tres
pass
ing
Sara
h So
usa
The
Oth
er W
orld
Witc
h
Trav
is S
teph
ens
Traffi c
Rep
ort
Tayl
or D
. War
ing
a sn
owm
an to
abd
uct m
ea
snow
man
to w
arm
me
Rich
ard
Wea
ver
Hun
ter S
. Tho
mps
onSe
amus
Hea
ney
The
2Riv
er V
iew
, 23.
4 (S
umm
er 2
019)
Rich
ard
Wea
ver
Seam
us H
eane
y
The
mom
ent a
ppea
rs, u
nann
ounc
ed,
thou
gh I
sens
ed it
s ap
proa
ch, a
nd fe
lt
its h
and
take
min
e. Y
ou to
o w
ill k
now
this
com
fort
upo
n ex
it. I
grow
larg
er
as ti
me
colla
pses
. You
r pre
senc
e,
ever
ywhe
re in
the
room
, out
side
,
and
beyo
nd. F
illin
g m
y he
art.
My
lung
s.B
ecom
ing
the
bloo
d I w
as a
nd a
m n
ow
unbe
com
ing.
“D
o no
t be
afra
id.”
Rich
ard
Wea
ver
Hun
ter
S. T
hom
pson
I may
hav
e be
en, i
n m
y ow
n w
ords
, a to
rtur
ed m
an
for a
ll se
ason
s, b
ut it
’s in
furia
ting
to d
ie. N
ot th
atit’
s un
expe
cted
. Or e
ven
inco
nven
ient
. It’s
just
a p
isse
r.
As
Dyl
an s
ang,
an
idio
t win
d. N
ot g
onzo
. Alth
ough
I was
sup
rem
ely
piss
ed a
t my
wife
(now
ex)
at t
he ti
me.
Still
, dea
th it
is, a
nd d
ead
I mus
t be.
So,
Ow
l far
m
is a
vaila
ble.
I liv
e th
ere
afte
r all.
And
wor
se,
foot
ball
seas
on is
ove
r. Fo
r me
and
that
lova
ble
fart
Nix
on.
I kno
w h
e ev
acua
ted
earli
er. W
ork
with
me
here
. OK
?
I’m d
ying
. Rem
embe
r? T
ortu
red
as w
ell.
I won
’t ex
plai
nsh
it, e
spec
ially
the
last
thin
g I w
rote
. One
wor
d: c
ouns
elor
.A
ccor
ding
to n
o le
ss a
n au
thor
ity th
an T
he R
ollin
g St
one,
who
kin
dly
publ
ishe
d w
hat t
hey
thou
ght w
as m
y ob
it,m
y la
st w
ords
wer
e –
“Rel
ax. I
t won
’t hu
rt”.
You
empt
y a
gun
into
you
r hea
d an
d se
e if
that
mak
es se
nse?
Hel
l, ha
ving
my
ashe
s bl
aste
d ou
t of a
can
non
over
W
oody
Cre
ek c
anyo
n w
as a
wal
k in
the
godd
am p
ark.
Bre
e A
. Rol
fe
A li
tany
of b
ad d
ecis
ions
Part
One
: O
men
s
The
only
rem
aini
ng
corr
espo
nden
ce b
etw
een
the
two
of u
s— a
New
Yor
k Ti
mes
art
icle
abo
ut M
arfa
an
d a
repl
y of
yip
pee.
Jon
Kra
kaue
r’s U
nder
the
Ban
ner
of H
eave
n on
aud
iobo
ok—
M
orm
onis
m, b
lood
at
onem
ent a
six
hou
r dr
ive
thro
ugh
dese
rt.
The fi r
st g
alle
ry w
ith p
hoto
grap
hsof
Kat
rina’
s de
stru
ctio
n pa
ired
with
poe
ms
from
chi
ldre
n le
ft
in h
er w
ake.
Som
ethi
ng b
eaut
iful
repu
rpos
ed fr
om s
torm
but s
till d
estr
uctio
n.
Bre
e A
. Rol
fe
Part
Tw
o: T
ake
it A
ll B
ack,
Tak
e it
All
Bac
k
Som
e fa
rm-t
o-ta
ble
rest
aura
nt
with
a n
ame
that
invo
lved
ch
icke
n an
d el
ectr
icity
w
here
you
brin
g yo
ur o
wn
win
e.
A lo
ud ta
ble
of s
ophi
stic
ated
mid
dle-
aged
cou
ples
, tip
sy a
nd d
eep,
de
ep in
con
vers
atio
n. U
s, s
ilent
,dr
aini
ng e
very
thin
g w
e br
ough
t.
A b
ar a
fter
, a fo
lk s
inge
r on
a to
ur,
fi nis
hes
his
set a
nd w
e ta
lk
too
long
abo
ut C
lub
Pass
im.
All
of y
our d
rinks
on
my
tab—
sc
otch
es p
iled
upon
sco
tche
s.
The
coup
le s
tayi
ng in
the
apar
tmen
t ne
xt to
us:
you
tell
them
you’
re fr
om B
rook
lyn
and
I say
bu
t you
’re fr
om C
onne
ctic
ut.
An
invi
tatio
n ba
ck to
thei
r pla
ce
for w
ine
that
feel
s lik
e a
prop
ositi
on.
A M
ilky
Way
them
ed a
ir st
ream
tr
aile
r tha
t sel
ls g
rille
d ch
eese
—yo
u sc
ream
ing
at m
e fro
m a
bea
n ba
g ch
air,
ever
ythi
ng m
issh
apen
in
bla
ck li
ght,
and
so tw
iste
d, I
wal
k ou
tan
d ba
ck to
our
rent
al a
lone
thro
ugh
pitc
h-bl
ack
stre
ets
with
no
real
sid
ewal
ks.
Tayl
or D
. War
ing
a sn
owm
an t
o w
arm
me
his
eyes
mar
bled
into
dia
mon
d as
i po
ured
his
slic
k re
mai
nsin
to a
sho
t gla
ss
shap
ed li
ke a
pis
tol
our h
eads
coc
ked
back
& s
kyw
ard
laug
hing
lik
e la
mps
i did
not
kno
w h
ow to
than
k hi
mfo
r the
buz
z
as i
lit o
n fi r
e w
hat w
as le
ftof
his
face
this
is te
rrib
le
only
if y
ou d
on’t
know
it is
alw
ays
win
ter o
n hi
s pl
anet
it is
alw
ays
snow
ing
in h
is h
ead
Tayl
or D
. War
ing
a sn
owm
an t
o ab
duct
me
all n
ight
the
snow
man
spo
ke o
f his
moo
nw
ith a
n un
know
n gl
acia
l dra
wl
by d
awn
i cou
ld s
ee th
e fu
rred
co
rpse
of a
squ
irrel
emer
ging
from
his
tinf
oil
top
hat
a ru
sted
ant
enna
& w
hat a
ppea
red
to b
e an
aba
ndon
ed a
ltern
ator
bl
oom
ing
behi
nd h
is c
oppe
r rib
cage
he to
ld m
ehe
cam
e fro
m th
e ot
her s
ide
of m
ars
whe
re it
is a
lway
s w
inte
r
i sai
d i u
nder
stoo
dho
w it
feel
s to
sca
n th
e sk
yw
ith m
y bo
nes
hopi
ng fo
r an
alie
n be
acon
to c
all m
e ho
me
why
eve
ryon
e in
the
univ
erse
is a
lone
Who
’s go
ing
to lo
ve th
e dy
ing
girl?
It al
l unr
avel
s: a
sm
ashe
d ph
one
a di
scon
nect
ed c
all,
an o
vert
urne
d co
ffee
tabl
e, a
lock
ed b
athr
oom
, ch
unks
of m
y ha
ir, u
nmoo
red.
Part
Thr
ee: A
fter
mat
h
Trip
licat
es o
f pap
erw
ork.
A
gas
sto
p, a
guy
on
a H
arle
yw
ith a
sym
path
etic
look
an
d th
en c
heap
sun
glas
ses.
A le
gion
of b
ugs
sacr
ifi ce
d on
my
win
dshi
eld
with
no
subs
tanc
e in
the
wor
ld o
ther
than
she
er
will
to s
crub
them
off.
Six
hour
s to
forg
et:
I’ll l
eave
you
in a
sha
llow
gr
ave
in W
est T
exas
.
Bre
e A
. Rol
fe
Isha
nee
Cha
nda
The
Jour
ney
to t
he C
ente
r of
the
Ear
th
I am
dig
ging
thro
ugh
this
/ w
ith e
mpt
y bo
wls
/ a
ndca
llous
ed h
ands
/ T
he s
hove
l is
cold
/ a
nd d
ead
/ne
xt to
me
/ Th
ey s
ay u
nder
neat
h th
e di
rt /
the
deca
ying
bod
ies
/ th
ere
is a
sha
tter
ed /
bro
ken
door
/to
som
ewhe
re /
less
hea
vy /
On
the
othe
r sid
e /
of th
eun
iver
se /
gra
vity
runs
the
wro
ng w
ay /
It p
ulls
you
/in
to th
e ai
r / a
rms
abov
e yo
ur h
ead
/ Pr
ayer
is d
one
stan
ding
/ G
od k
neel
s /
at y
our f
eet /
He
mus
t be
acro
ss /
this
exp
anse
of d
eath
/ a
nd ro
t / a
nd a
crid
ity /
kne
elin
gon
/ th
e ot
her s
ide
/ I a
m d
iggi
ng /
God
/ I
am c
omin
g /
I am
/ b
uryi
ng m
ysel
f / a
live
/ at
you
r fee
t
From
the
right
a fl a
tbed
truc
k m
erge
sbe
arin
g a
tarp
cov
ered
load
.I s
low
to fo
llow
.Th
e ta
rp is
loos
ein
one
cor
ner,
a bl
ack
shro
ud o
f sec
recy
.W
hat c
ould
it b
e?It
coul
d be
any
thin
g:an
art
icul
ated
cla
msh
ell b
ucke
t,em
erge
ncy
gene
rato
r,sc
ulpt
ure
for t
he c
ivic
cen
ter,
a w
reck
ed B
ugat
ti.Sw
ayin
g, ro
ckin
g.O
hio
plat
es, i
s th
at a
clu
e?M
aybe
Leb
ron’
s tr
ophy
col
lect
ion
or th
e re
loca
ted
mau
sole
umof
the
Bes
sem
er fa
mily
.B
rake
ligh
ts.
I go
left
and
let i
t go,
in m
y re
ar v
iew
mirr
or a
nill
-sha
ped
lum
p of
com
mer
ce.
May
be h
eade
d yo
ur w
ay.
My
exit
seve
n m
inut
es a
way
.
Trav
is S
teph
ens
Trav
is S
teph
ens
Traffi c
Rep
ort
toda
y on
the
high
way
a sh
atte
red
pile
of
woo
d pi
eces
, jag
ged
shar
psam
id a
tang
le o
ffa
bric
and
bat
ting.
I bel
ieve
it w
as a
cou
ch.
A s
ofa.
Spla
tter
ed, s
hatt
ered
and
toss
ed.
Stuffi n
g ha
d be
com
e co
ver
& c
over
had
bec
ome
thre
ads.
Yest
erda
y on
the
freew
aybe
twee
n ex
itstr
affi c
slo
wed
but
did
n’t s
top
even
as
a w
hite
van
nose
d in
to th
e gu
ardr
ail
faci
ng tr
affi c
, poo
r thi
ng,
billo
wed
sm
oky fl a
me.
Rain
fell
as th
e fi r
emen
lit o
ff th
e hy
dran
t.
Mor
ning
traffi c
aba
ndon
sdo
gma
& p
raye
r for
the
solid
law
s of
phy
sics
.Th
e fa
vorit
e: a
bod
y in
mot
ion,
seco
nd b
est,
equa
l rea
ctio
ns.
Each
day
a re
affi r
mat
ion,
and
too
ofte
n a
lam
ent.
Why
oh
why
me?
Why
toda
y?
Isha
nee
Cha
nda
Mirr
or
you
pool
/ in
my
thro
at /
in th
e m
orni
ngs
/ th
e ta
ste
of y
our l
ips
/ al
way
s ca
ught
/ b
etw
een
my
tons
ils /
and
my
tong
ue /
it h
as b
een
mon
ths
/an
d i a
m s
till /
lick
ing
you
off /
my fi n
gert
ips
/ lik
e ho
ney
/ an
d ag
e-ol
d so
aked
win
e /
wha
t if
lovi
ng s
omeo
ne /
is n
ot h
oldi
ng th
em /
in y
our
mou
th /
whe
n th
ey a
re g
one
/ i t
ry to
sw
allo
w /
bu
t the
wor
ds g
et s
tuck
in m
y th
roat
/ s
hard
s of
glas
s /
slid
e in
to m
y st
omac
h /
they
cal
l lov
e th
e si
lver
dea
th /
and
i th
ink
abou
t the
mirr
or /
in
your
bed
room
/ a
ll w
arm
woo
d /
and
rose
s /
your
sm
ile re
fl ect
ed /
in th
e m
orni
ng li
ght /
ifth
is is
dea
th /
wha
t a g
limm
er it
car
ries
/ w
hat
a w
onde
rful
/ g
race
ful /
way
to g
o
Har
ley
Ana
stas
ia C
hapm
an
Haw
kmot
her
I’m tr
ying
to tu
rn m
y m
othe
r int
o a
haw
k.
Her
cof
fee
is to
o lo
ud,
she
pref
ers
win
gs m
ade
of ra
bbit.
I tel
l her
all
the
rede
mpt
ions
of t
he h
awk,
how
he
win
gs g
old
at s
unse
tho
w h
e sp
ots
prey
for x
mile
s.Sh
e te
lls m
e I s
houl
d br
ush
my
hair.
At n
ight
I br
eak
the
bird
& p
ut it
s bo
dy li
mp
unde
r her
pill
ow.
By
mor
ning
she
is p
ink
clay
.W
hen
her b
oyfr
iend
com
es h
ome
wat
er-e
yed
she
is o
n hi
m, a
kin
g’s
bird
.I w
atch
her
cle
an h
er te
eth
as if
she
has
a b
one
to p
ick
with
.
Sara
h So
usa
Witc
h
Wic
h: a
bun
dle
of fi
ber.
Wik
to tw
ine
and
twis
t,co
nnec
ted
to s
pinn
ing
a ha
sp, a
ske
in o
f yar
n.
Wik
the
coili
ng ro
ots
of th
e tr
ee. W
omen
tw
iste
d fl a
x an
d ot
her p
lant
fi be
rin
to w
icks
, dip
ped
in ta
llow
and
burn
ed. T
he w
ord
wic
ker f
or w
illow
wan
dba
sket
s, th
e w
ord
wea
k m
eani
ng fl
exib
le s
talk
,w
ice
for w
itch
haze
l’s p
liant
nat
ure.
W
icke
t, a
turn
ing
gate
. The
mea
sure
d tu
rnin
g of
tim
e, a
wee
k.
Wic
ked,
the
mak
ing
of k
nots
and
pla
iting
the fi b
ers.
W
icke
d th
e co
njur
ing
of c
loth
from
bea
sts.
Wic
h,
whe
n th
e fi e
ld g
rass
ass
embl
es.
Witc
h w
hen
it bu
rns.
Sara
h So
usa
The
Oth
er W
orld
Wha
t is
brok
en h
ere,
th
ere
is w
hole
. The
mirr
or’s
bad
luck
sea
led
for g
ood
alon
g its
con
cent
ric s
pide
r’s
web
of c
rack
s. T
he h
ead
of th
e do
ll pu
shed
bac
kon
to h
er b
ody.
Syn
thet
ic h
air,
jagg
ed-c
ut w
ith d
ull s
ciss
ors,
lo
ng a
gain
and
, odd
ly, h
uman
.A
sku
ll, a
vas
e, a
n ol
d lo
vem
ende
d. H
ole
in th
e ic
e, h
eart
valv
e, c
lasp
of t
he n
eckl
ace.
The
raze
d ho
use
reco
nstr
ucts
its
elf,
bone
by
char
red
bone
,bu
rnis
hes
the
empt
y ro
oms.
And
rive
rs fl
ow b
ack
to th
eir s
ourc
e:W
et-d
ark
tree
s. R
aind
rop
at th
e tip
of e
very
leaf
refl e
ctin
g th
e in
vert
ed w
orld
like
a w
oman
feat
here
d w
ith m
irror
s.
Har
ley
Ana
stas
ia C
hapm
an
Life
Stu
dy
I hav
e m
ade
my
life
a st
udy
of s
ilenc
e, th
e cu
lmin
atio
n of
you
rw
arni
ngs.
I ha
ng li
lac
from
the
bram
ble
in o
ur b
acky
ard,
mot
her,
dren
ch th
e pe
onie
s in
inse
ctic
ide.
Whe
n th
eir h
eads
han
g ca
rpen
ter b
odie
s fa
ll lik
e sn
ow.
That
’s w
hat t
hey
get,
mot
her.
Don
’t th
ey k
now
wha
t is
ours
?A
fam
ily o
f gro
undh
ogs
have
bu
rrow
ed n
ear,
I saw
them
wad
dlin
g in
a li
ne b
y th
e ga
rage
.A
mot
her &
thre
e ki
ts.
Do
you
rem
embe
r tha
t hou
se
you
lived
in fo
r a s
umm
er,
how
the
owne
r cag
ed
the
grou
ndho
g be
fore
he
coul
dun
derm
ine
the
front
por
ch?
How
the
crea
ture
cla
wed
aga
inst
the
wire
& it
was
so
hot t
hat d
ay,
his
paw
s bl
ood-
shin
y, m
outh
froth
ing.
We
trie
d to
sha
dehi
m, p
rovi
de w
ater
bu
t we
coul
dn’t
beco
me
thin
gs
he c
ould
trus
t. I w
ante
d so
bad
lyto
free
him
but
cou
ldn’
t brin
g m
ysel
fto
ope
n th
e ca
ge d
oor.
Cha
rles
Finn
Mor
ning
Cof
fee
They
wou
ld w
ake
early
and
car
ry th
eir m
orni
ng c
offe
e th
e th
e po
rch,
the
Fabe
rgé
rise
of th
e su
n th
eirs
for t
he ta
king
. Sh
e’d
salu
te th
e ye
llow
orb
with
a ti
ny b
ow o
f her
hea
d an
d he
’d ra
ise
his
mug
. The
n th
ey’d
set
tle in
to th
e w
icke
r ro
cker
s th
at o
nce
belo
nged
to h
er m
othe
r. Th
e ch
airs
kep
t tim
e, th
ey li
ked
to th
ink,
with
the
past
and
the
pres
ent.
Ritu
al w
as e
very
thin
g, a
nd th
e bi
rds,
the
mor
ning
ligh
t, th
ey b
roug
ht a
gre
at c
alm
ness
. Aft
er a
whi
le, h
e’d
reac
h ov
er a
nd ta
ke h
er h
and
and
she
knew
they
wer
e bu
ildin
g an
arc
hite
ctur
e of
hap
pine
ss to
geth
er, o
ne th
at w
ould
ne
ver b
e to
rn d
own.
Eve
n on
the
over
cast
or f
og w
rapp
ed
mor
ning
s th
ey s
at th
ere,
a p
air o
f mut
e cr
anes
in th
eir
bath
robe
s an
d sl
ippe
rs. T
hey
did
this
with
out s
peak
ing,
lis
teni
ng to
the
prog
ress
ion
of b
ird s
ong,
to th
e fl u
te-li
ke
and
chim
e-fi l
led
voic
es—
and
it m
atte
red,
mat
tere
d ve
ry
muc
h. B
y th
e tim
e th
ey fi
nish
ed th
eir c
offe
e, th
ey h
ad
hear
d ev
eryt
hing
they
nee
ded
to k
now
.
Cam
eron
Mor
se
Tres
pass
ing
Stra
y w
ith m
e. F
aste
n an
d fi x
ate.
A
wag
on w
heel
lean
s ag
ains
t the
pic
kets
.
Go,
inve
stig
ate.
In
vest
igat
e th
e fl o
wer
bed,
the
bask
etba
ll go
als
and
exte
nsio
n la
dder
s ly
ing
on th
eir s
ides
. Th
ese
sum
mer
hou
ses
are
mos
tly e
mpt
y in
Dec
embe
r,
thes
e ga
scan
s, ic
ebox
es,
left
over
pel
ts o
f sno
w o
n un
rake
d riv
ersi
de la
wns
.
It’s
unlik
ely
that
you
will
rem
embe
r thi
s,
how
you
stu
mbl
ed a
mon
g th
e ru
sty
boat
trai
lers
in th
e pr
e-da
wn
whe
re I
don
my
cove
ralls
. It’
s un
likel
y yo
u w
ill re
mem
ber m
e at
all.
Wha
t doe
s th
e w
ater
hav
e to
say
? W
hat d
oes
the
light
ha
ve to
say
to th
e w
ater
? A
nd y
ou, w
ould
you
ple
ase
just
cal
l me
Dad
dy?
I kno
w y
ou k
now
som
e w
ords
. It’
s ju
st u
s ou
t her
e on
the
rock
ban
k
of th
e M
issi
ssip
pi. L
et m
e le
an o
ver.
Whi
sper
som
ethi
ng in
my
ear.
Cam
eron
Mor
se
Mis
siss
ippi
Sin
galo
ng
We
wak
e to
the
clin
k of
a fl
agle
ss p
ole
like
ice
in th
e bo
ttom
of a
gla
ss, t
he c
link
of th
e la
nyar
d in
the
hand
s
of th
e w
ind.
We
wal
k in
the
cold
. Th
e w
illow
han
gs it
s le
afl e
ss v
ines
, lig
ht b
ulb fi l
amen
ts, s
un
casc
adin
g ov
er th
e ca
st ir
on fe
nce.
Who
se h
ouse
is th
is?
The
eart
h be
long
s to
us,
our
des
cend
ants
, ea
rthl
ings
, but
the
hous
e is
not
ou
r ow
n. B
elow
it fl
ows
the
river
.
Bef
ore
whi
ch w
e ba
lk.
The
river
shu
ffl es
its
feet
, cho
ppy
cow
boy
boot
s, in
its
deep
blu
e bl
ouse
.I b
elie
ve in
you
.
Even
thou
gh w
e’re
wor
n ou
t now
, I b
elie
ve y
ou w
ill a
lway
s be
nea
r me.
B
elow
us,
the
river
car
ries
the
river
, its
tune
, its
mel
ody.
Cha
rles
Finn
Som
ewhe
re
She
drea
ms
of w
hite
sw
ans
sitt
ing
on d
ark
patc
hes
of
lake
. Haw
ks, l
ifted
by
ther
mal
s, p
eggi
ng th
emse
lves
to
the
mid
day
sun.
She
dre
ams
of g
rizzl
y be
ars
mak
ing
jam
in
thei
r bel
lies,
and
bea
vers
hoa
rse
from
sho
utin
g w
hen
thei
r tre
es c
ome
dow
n. L
ying
aw
ake
in th
e pr
e-da
wn
light
sh
e dr
eam
s th
ese
thin
gs, a
nd h
e ca
n fe
el h
er b
esid
e hi
m,
goin
g de
eper
and
dee
per i
nto
the
anim
als’
live
s. M
ost
ofte
n sh
e dr
eam
s of
bird
s, o
f an
inex
plic
able
pul
l, of
fl yi
ng
sout
h w
ith th
e m
oon
for w
eeks
on
end.
She
wan
ts th
is s
he
tells
him
, how
she
long
s fo
r an
unco
ntro
llabl
e ac
he ra
ther
th
an th
e on
e sh
e ha
s. H
e do
esn’
t say
any
thin
g, b
ut in
the
mor
ning
he
take
s he
r out
to th
e la
ke w
here
the
mig
ratin
g w
ater
fow
l sto
p ov
er, w
here
they
mak
e lo
ve, w
here
to
geth
er th
ey w
alk,
han
d in
han
d, a
s fa
r and
as
fast
as
they
ca
n.
Susa
n L.
Lea
ry
The
Clea
nest
She
et o
f Ice
Thro
ugh
the
clea
nest
she
et o
f ice
, I w
atch
my
brot
her
drow
ning
. He
wat
ches
as
I wat
ch. B
oth
of u
s hu
rt b
y w
inte
r—by
wat
er &
win
d &
thei
r sha
red
set o
f tee
th. M
y m
outh
stu
ffed
shut
with
the
whi
test
orc
hids
. His
eye
s pa
led
into
the
colo
r of s
now
. Thi
s is
wha
t add
ictio
n w
ill d
o.
Will
pla
ce y
our b
ody
& th
e bo
dy o
f the
one
you
love
in
freez
ing
tem
pera
ture
s &
sep
arat
e th
em w
ith th
e cl
eane
st
shee
t of i
ce. S
o cl
ean,
my
brot
her &
I ca
n al
mos
t tou
ch.
Alm
ost c
onso
le o
ne a
noth
er. T
he ic
e ab
laze
with
all
that
fe
elin
g. &
how
it n
ever
sto
ps—
not t
he w
ater
rush
ing,
nor
th
e ea
rspl
ittin
g so
unds
of a
gro
wn
man
wai
ling.
The
sou
nd
of m
y br
othe
r dro
wni
ng &
not
kno
win
g ho
w to
die
.
Susa
n L.
Lea
ry
My
Brot
her
Can
Say
Som
e of
the
Pre
ttie
st T
hing
s
My
brot
her c
an s
ay s
ome
of th
e pr
ettie
st th
ings
. Can
tell
you
abou
t the
wat
er &
the
soft
sm
ack
of th
e ne
t. A
bout
th
e so
und
of th
e lin
e un
rave
ling
into
the
mou
th o
f the
fi n
est-
look
ing
snap
per.
All
that
sw
eetn
ess
in th
e ea
r, ju
st
for h
im. H
ow th
e so
und
of it
bar
rels
into
the
grit
of h
is
blis
terin
g pa
lms.
In th
em, t
he s
ound
of w
ho g
ets
to li
ve.
Like
I sa
id, m
y br
othe
r can
say
som
e of
the
pret
tiest
th
ings
. My
brot
her,
who
se h
ands
fi dg
et to
geth
er li
ke
loos
e pu
ppet
s ac
ross
his
lap.
Who
sel
ls fo
od s
tam
ps
for R
oxic
odon
e. R
etur
ns to
us
spor
adic
ally
& g
oes
unsh
ower
ed fo
r day
s. M
y br
othe
r, w
ho le
aves
in th
e to
ilet
the
base
st re
mna
nts
of a
bod
y. H
is m
othe
r, w
ho s
plits
the
skin
of h
er fi
nger
s to
cle
an it
.
But
my
brot
her c
an s
ay s
ome
of th
e pr
ettie
st th
ings
. Can
te
ll yo
u w
hat e
veni
ng s
mel
ls li
ke in
the
mid
dle
of n
owhe
re.
The
way
the
lung
s op
en to
that
sce
nt o
f stil
lnes
s be
twee
n a
man
& n
othi
ng b
ut th
e ea
rth.
All
that
sky
acc
umul
atin
g,
just
for h
im. H
ow th
e sm
ell o
f it d
raw
s ne
ar th
e m
ost
hidd
en p
arts
of n
ight
eve
n th
e st
ars
had
forg
otte
n. T
hat
now
in th
ose
star
s, s
omet
hing
her
oic.
Exce
pt m
y br
othe
r has
no
hom
e &
no
wor
k. M
y br
othe
r, w
ho c
arrie
s th
e di
rt o
f an
entir
e ci
ty in
his
bea
rd &
pr
eten
ds h
e w
ants
to c
hang
e. Y
ou s
ee, m
y br
othe
r can
te
ach
the
sad
irony
of p
eopl
e w
ho s
ay th
e pr
ettie
st th
ings
. B
ut I
can
teac
h yo
u th
e sa
dder
iron
y of
peo
ple
who
hea
r th
em. L
ike
each
tim
e in
par
ting,
whe
n he
tells
me
he lo
ves
me
& I
belie
ve it
.