I just stumbled across this erasure game on Wave Books’ website.

“Ode to Flotation Device: Stroke Pull” was first published in DESIRE and FLOTATION DEVICES: A Vis-a-Vis Society Study and Field Notes inspired by the art of Debra Baxter and was accompanied by a series of interactive surveys and reports via song and overhead projector at her “I want you to want me” opening at Ballard Fetherston Gallery in 2005. It appeared in The Monarch Review in April 2012.

This pantoum formed a link in the Poetry Chain that Paul Constant set off on The Stranger’s SLOG. Thanks to Sierra Nelson for tagging me!

After the Party Pantoum

 

Working that walk so hard it hurts,
it hurts, walking home in someone else’s high heels.
You were who you were before you came here —
a small animal, wandering, a drink in your hand.

 

It hurts, walking home in someone else’s high heels
so leave them by the road, a small monument to failure, leave them
to the curious small animal. Wonder — what was in that drink?
Work that barefoot walk in the rain.

 

Left the road for a small moment. Failed to leave
when, clearly, you’d had enough.
Work that barefoot walk in the rain
while you run through every stupid thing you said and did.

 

Clearly, you’d had enough —
enough to walk right up to him and
run through every stupid thing you said and did
and then apologize.

 

Enough! Walk right up to him and
give him a great big kiss
and then apologize
for bringing the party.

 

So you kissed him. Great.
You were who you were before you came here.
You brought the party and now you’re
working that walk so hard it hurts.

This poem was featured in The Far Field thanks to Kathleen Flenniken, Washington State’s Poet Laureate.

Parade of Fences

Donkey Fence. Brown Corduroy Suit Holiday High-jumping Fence. Cyclops’ Golden Grasses Fence. Spying Bushes Fence. Teenage Angst and Loneliness Fence. Tangerine Bikini Fence. Masking Tape and Wrath in Shared Bedroom Fence. Ancient Stone Fence. Family Religion Fence. Electric Fence. No Fooling Barbed Wire Fence. Angry Bull On the Other Side of This Fence Fence. Creaky Chainlink Gate Leading to Unplanned Pregnancy Fence. Falling Down Fence. Fence for Napping. Fence Without Hope. Wet Phone Books Fence. Garden Hose Wielded as Weapon Fence. Hedge Full of Surprising Thorns Fence. Invisible Fence. Useless Deer-proof Netting Fence. Bad Dog Barking Fence. Idealistic Fabric Hung By Hopeful Young Mother Trying to Be a Writer Fence. Small Children Hanging from Mother’s Limbs (Including Accidental Labial Grab) Fence. Horrible Grin Fence.