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Harping On It

The harp strung with the hair of the lover drowned in the lake
the harp whose bracken hide and broken pillar fossilize on the bank
the harp whose box and board fill with mud
the harp of the survivor whose mouth fills with mud
the harp of the living sister
the harp strung with the meat of the child versus
the harp strung with the milk of the mother
the harp fingered versus the harp mouthed, loose liars
the harps whose cold shoulders are made from the scapulae of the drowned
the harp strung with the heart strings of the whole brood
the harp who weeps on the wrong occasions
the harp with the face of a woman and her talons on the branch
the harp that dangles an angel
the harp that tweaks an atmosphere
the harp strung with duckweed
the harp both the coffin and its dead
the harp spitting
the harp spitting
the harp spitting
each name

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Tulle Belt


The right tulle for the jaw
the tulle preventing the latch
the tulle forging a jet-black horse’s bridle
the tulle taking its time
the tulle top and then bottom
the tulle bottom and then top
the tulle by the yard and its gates wide
the tulle frothing around the pick-up sticks
the tulle pinned up
the tulle billowed and billowing
the tulle a pillow for the drowned
the tulle ungovernable anywhere but a vacuum
the tulle ungovernable even in a vacuum
the tulle taking its time in the saddle
the tulle taking its time at the altar
the tulle taking its time around the lid
the tulle taking its time tying the knot
the tulle taking its time in front of the mirror
and behind the mirror
and behind

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Sloe Train

The train crawls thick with refuse
the train slops lace in butcher’s juice
the train snags tin lids and eye patches
the train soaks up a whale’s tear
the train aflame scorches the gusset
the train hooks over the rafter in the barn
the train waits with its tail in its mouth
the train clutters with leaves and pearls
the train leaves a trail of mucin and wine
the train tucks in the witches tit
the train swaddles the newborn bitch
the train strains and strains and through it
drips one
pitchy
drop