Tuesday, August 31, 2010

St. Raymond Nonnatus (patron of childbirth, midwives, & pregnant women)


your mother told you

that the clouds were milk

& you could drink them

through song.


when she died,

they pierced your lips

& padlocked them shut.


they said your heart

was a jukebox.


that music’s not allowed

in a town like this.


even so,

the girls swung their hips

to the sound of the keys

that shut you up.


they raised their arms,

collapsed onto couches

& let your music


slip those sweaters

right over their cheeks

& their hot-roller curls.


bobby pins clattered

to the floor.



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