Issue |
 |
Sept |
|
a poem by Janann Dawkins
Misunderstood
A guest on Dr. Phil
declared the cock "God's
ugliest invention," and only the word
would glide past her lips.
Beside her, her husband,
pleading his case, could not enlarge
her vision enough to see the swiftness
of this rooted flying fish
divested of scales, shiny with flesh,
marbled with veiny musculature,
rivers of love just beneath the skin
the color of pomegranate's blood.
Only the salt of sweat would touch
her tongue. "I'd take a bullet
in the throat for him," she said,
"but never a sword in the mouth."
declared the cock "God's
ugliest invention," and only the word
would glide past her lips.
pleading his case, could not enlarge
her vision enough to see the swiftness
of this rooted flying fish
marbled with veiny musculature,
rivers of love just beneath the skin
the color of pomegranate's blood.
her tongue. "I'd take a bullet
in the throat for him," she said,
"but never a sword in the mouth."