2Riv
erw
ww
.2Ri
ver.
org
7474
Dre
xel D
R •
Uni
vers
ity
City
• M
O •
631
30 •
USA
2RV
19.2
(W
inte
r 20
15)
new
poe
ms b
y Ra
ndol
ph B
ridge
man
, Sar
ah d
e So
usa,
Mia
Erik
sson
Joy
Lade
n, E
stan
islao
Lop
ez, H
eidi
McK
inle
yRa
jiv M
ohab
ir, C
harle
s Raff
ert
y, M
ark
Scho
enkn
echt
Saha
ra S
mith
, Dav
id W
right
The
2Riv
er V
iew
19.2
(W
inte
r 20
15)
Chain
© 2
014
by D
rew
Cam
pbel
l
The
2Riv
er V
iew
, 19.
2 (W
inte
r 201
5)
Abou
t the
Ar
st
Drew
Cam
pbel
l is a
mem
ber o
f the
f/32
Pho
togr
aphy
Clu
b in
As
hevi
lle, N
orth
Car
olin
a. H
e ha
s exh
ibite
d hi
s pho
togr
aphy
at
vario
us v
enue
s, in
clud
ing
the
Blac
k M
ount
ain
Cent
er fo
r the
Art
s an
d th
e Sw
ain
Coun
ty C
ente
r for
the
Arts
. Cam
pbel
l tea
ches
ph
otog
raph
y cl
asse
s at t
he Jo
hn C
. Cam
pbel
l Fol
k Sc
hool
.
Abou
t 2Ri
ver
Sinc
e 19
96, 2
Rive
r has
bee
n a
site
of p
oetr
y an
d ar
t, qu
arte
rly
publ
ishin
g Th
e 2R
iver
Vie
w a
nd o
ccas
iona
lly p
ublis
hing
in
divi
dual
aut
hors
in th
e 2R
iver
Cha
pboo
k Se
ries.
2Ri
ver i
s also
th
e ho
me
of M
uddy
Ban
k, th
e 2R
iver
blo
g.
Rich
ard
Long
2Riv
erIS
SN 1
536-
2086
ww
w.2
Rive
r.org
ww
w.m
uddy
bank
.org
The
2Riv
er V
iew
19.2
(W
inte
r 20
15)
ISSN
153
6-20
86
The
2Riv
er V
iew
, 19.
2 (W
inte
r 201
5)
Conten
ts
Heid
i McK
inle
y N
ew Y
ear’s
Driv
e
Rand
olph
Brid
gem
anre
adin
g to
an
empt
y ro
omst
epfa
ther
s
Sara
h de
Sou
saTh
e G
arde
n of
For
go e
n Le
ers
Juni
n de
los A
ndes
Mia
Erik
sson
A m
ini-c
row
n of
four
love
sonn
ets
Joy
Lade
nRa
dio
Hai
My
Fath
er’s
Pain
Heid
i McK
inle
y is
a st
uden
t of j
ourn
alism
at t
he U
nive
rsity
of
Iow
a. H
er w
ork
has b
een
feat
ured
in 1
947,
Kaw
smou
th, a
nd
Type
hous
e Li
tera
ry M
agaz
ine.
Rajiv
Moh
abir
is th
e w
inne
r of t
he 2
014
Intr
o Pr
ize b
y Fo
ur W
ay
Book
s for
The
Taxi
derm
ist’s
Cut (
Sprin
g 20
16).
He re
ceiv
ed h
is M
FA fr
om Q
ueen
s Col
lege
and
is c
urre
ntly
pur
suin
g hi
s PhD
fr
om th
e U
nive
rsity
of H
awai
`i.
Char
les R
aff e
rty’
s ten
th b
ook
of p
oetr
y is
The
Unl
eash
able
Dog
. Hi
s poe
ms h
ave
appe
ared
in T
he N
ew Y
orke
r, O
prah
Mag
azin
e,
Prai
rie S
choo
ner,
and
The
Sout
hern
Rev
iew
. Raff
ert
y cu
rren
tly
dire
cts t
he M
FA p
rogr
am a
t Alb
ertu
s Mag
nus C
olle
ge.
Mar
k Sc
hoen
knec
ht h
olds
a B
A in
Eng
lish
from
Mic
higa
n St
ate
Uni
vers
ity a
nd a
n M
A in
Eng
lish
from
the
Uni
vers
ity o
f M
assa
chus
e e
s—Bo
ston
. Sch
oenk
nech
t has
wor
ked
a va
riety
of
part
- m
e, h
ourly
jobs
whi
le fo
cusin
g on
wri
ng
poet
ry.
Saha
ra S
mith
is si
nger
/son
gwrit
e/po
et fr
om A
us n
, Tex
as. I
n 20
10, T
-Bon
e Bu
rne
rec
orde
d he
r deb
ut a
lbum
, Myt
h of
the
Hear
t, w
hich
Na
ona
l Pub
lic R
adio
cal
led
“a h
ybrid
of f
olk,
Am
eric
ana,
cou
ntry
, and
blu
egra
ss.”
In N
ovem
ber 2
010,
Sm
ith
appe
ared
on
The
Dave
Le
erm
an S
how
. Sm
ith is
now
wor
king
on
her
seco
nd a
lbum
und
er th
e na
me
Girl
Pilo
t.
Sara
h de
Sou
sa li
ves i
n Se
asca
pe, C
alifo
rnia
. She
is a
dan
cer,
educ
a o
nal c
ouns
elor
, ste
p-m
othe
r, w
ife, a
nd p
erpe
tual
stud
ent
of p
hilo
soph
y, li
tera
ture
, psy
chol
ogy,
and
med
ita o
n.
Davi
d W
right
has
poe
ms f
orth
com
ing
in N
assa
u Re
view
, So
u’w
este
r, an
d Ta
hom
a Li
tera
ry R
evie
w, a
mon
g ot
hers
. His
mos
t rec
ent c
olle
c o
n of
poe
try
is Th
e Sm
all B
ooks
of B
ach
(Wip
f & S
tock
, 201
4).
The
2Riv
er V
iew
, 19.
2 (W
inte
r 201
5)
Contrib
utors
Rand
olph
Brid
gem
an h
as fo
ur c
olle
c o
ns o
f poe
ms:
Sou
th
of E
very
whe
re, M
echa
nic
on D
uty,
The
Odd
Test
amen
t, an
d,
fort
hcom
ing
in 2
015,
The
Poe
t Lau
reat
e of
Cra
cker
Tow
n.
Mia
Erik
sson
is c
urre
ntly
pur
suin
g he
r PhD
in G
ende
r Stu
dies
at
the
Uni
vers
ity o
f Got
henb
urg,
Sw
eden
. She
writ
es p
oetr
y in
bot
h En
glish
and
Sw
edish
. The
poe
m h
ere
in 2
RV is
her
fi rs
t po
etry
pub
lica
on.
Joy
Ladi
n ha
s pub
lishe
d six
boo
ks o
f poe
try,
incl
udin
g La
mbd
a Li
tera
ry A
war
d fi n
alist
Tra
nsm
igra
on;
her
seve
nth,
Im
pers
ona
on,
is d
ue o
ut in
sprin
g 20
15. H
er m
emoi
r, Th
roug
h th
e Do
or o
f Life
: A Je
wish
Jour
ney
Betw
een
Gen
ers,
was
a 2
012
Na
ona
l Jew
ish B
ook
Awar
d fi n
alist
. Lad
in h
olds
the
Go
esm
an
Chai
r in
Engl
ish a
t Yes
hiva
Uni
vers
ity.
Josh
ua E
stan
islao
Lop
ez h
as h
ad p
oem
s app
ear i
n M
erid
ian,
M
id-A
mer
ican
Rev
iew
, New
Ohi
o Re
view
, and
else
whe
re.
Esta
nisla
o Lo
pez
Digi
tal G
rave
yard
sTh
e Ve
ry W
ide
Spac
e Be
twee
n Ce
rtai
n e
s
Rajiv
Moh
abir
Blow
hole
Mus
eum
Char
les R
aff e
rty
The
Man
with
a L
ight
at 3
a.m
.Th
e M
an w
ith a
Pia
no S
trap
ped
to h
is Ba
ck
Mar
k Sc
hoen
knec
htDr
eam
Poe
m: O
f Driv
ing
a Re
d Co
nver
ble
with
the
Que
en
of th
e U
nder
wor
ld a
s My
Pass
enge
rIn
side
the
Hoop
hous
e
Saha
ra S
mith
Wod
enSt
ars a
nd S
ighi
ng
Davi
d W
right
The
Shal
low
Way
The
Youn
g Bi
olog
ist o
n He
r Hon
eym
oon
Pond
ers
th
e O
rigin
of L
ife
The
2Riv
er V
iew
, 19.
2 (W
inte
r 201
5)Da
vid
Wrig
ht
The
Youn
g Bi
olog
ist o
n H
er H
oney
moo
nPo
nder
s the
Orig
ins o
f Life
It st
arts
, eith
er w
ay, o
n a
beac
h,w
ith a
fi nc
h in
one
han
dan
d a
pair
of sh
oes i
n th
e ot
her,
a pa
ir of
ver
y fi n
e sh
oes h
ooke
d, e
ach
over
a d
elic
ate fi n
ger.
Whi
te sa
ndse
les i
n th
e pa
le, c
reas
ed le
athe
r.
And
the fi n
ch, h
is te
ll-al
l bea
k,pe
cks t
he g
rade
d-cr
ease
of y
our p
alm
whe
re y
ou h
ave
gath
ered
her l
ike
a so
uven
ir of
you
r wee
ksin
the
islan
ds. S
he m
ay c
alm
dow
n, h
er b
row
n fe
athe
rs
war
min
g un
der y
our t
ouch
.Yo
u w
ill h
ave
to st
and
here
with
one
ano
ther
—yo
u an
d yo
ur b
ird se
ated
in th
e cu
p of
you
r han
d.W
ho b
roug
ht y
ou to
geth
er?
To k
now,
you
will
hav
e to
spea
kce
rtai
n w
ords
, mak
e de
man
ds,
and
then
lear
n to
teth
erev
eryo
ne y
ou lo
ve to
the
eart
h. S
leek
mal
e fi n
ches
dem
and
you
free
thei
r lov
er.
You
thro
w y
our s
hoes
and
the
bird
s fl e
e,ye
t you
raise
you
r le
han
dan
d op
en it
. One
fl u
er
and
this
sign
you
desir
e to
kee
pbu
t rel
ease
, bec
omes
evi
denc
e,no
t spe
cim
en, n
ot ta
med
, not
a p
raye
r.
Davi
d W
right
The
Shal
low
Way
We
have
take
n th
e ch
ildre
nfa
rthe
r out
to th
e sa
ndba
rso
we
can
all s
tand
thig
h an
d w
aist
and
bel
ly d
eep
beyo
nd th
e br
eak
of th
e gr
eat
lake
’s w
aves
bef
ore
they
se le
them
selv
es o
n th
e be
ach.
Your
frie
nd’s
elde
rly m
othe
rsid
estr
okes
aro
und
us.
Her w
hite
swim
cap
bre
aks
the
gree
n pl
ane
of w
aves
aga
in
and
agai
n. S
he w
ears
blu
e go
ggle
san
d he
r spe
ckle
d sk
in li
ke a
cre
atur
ebo
rn to
the
fam
iliar
wat
ers.
Out
her
e I s
houl
d lo
ve th
e de
epbu
t do
not.
I wan
t ins
tead
to ta
keth
e ch
ildre
n ba
ck to
war
m sa
nd.
But w
e’ve
dri
ed
and
lost
the
shal
low
way
in.
You
mak
e it,
som
ehow
. My
son
is w
atch
ing
the
gran
dmot
her
roll
her h
ead
to b
reat
he,
as sh
e cu
ts h
er w
ay a
cros
sth
e w
aves
, alw
ays r
ollin
gaw
ay fr
om th
e in
com
ing
surf.
I can
not b
reat
he. I
hol
d hi
m g
hter
than
he
likes
. I d
o no
tte
ll hi
m m
y fe
et c
anno
t rea
chth
e bo
om
. He
says
he
is no
tsc
ared
, tha
t he
sees
the
shor
e.
Heid
i K. M
cKin
ley
New
Yea
r’s D
rive
New
est y
ear
Oh,
you
let g
o—
The
snow
, you
say,
will
end
.Th
e da
ys le
ngth
en a
min
ute
at a
m
e bu
t I c
an’t
tell.
I go
on, b
link
up, d
o th
e di
shes
, som
e m
es la
undr
y.M
y da
ys g
o fi n
e, li
ke a
thre
e le
gged
ani
mal
.I w
ould
rath
er n
ot sa
y th
is:O
h yo
u, le
t go.
The
high
way
whi
te a
s any
thin
gAn
d yo
u re
adin
g ou
t lou
d th
e en
re d
rive.
Mor
e th
an o
nce
I will
wish
I w
ere
hom
e.Sn
ow ri
bbon
s acr
oss t
he ro
ad in
win
d.M
ore
than
onc
e I w
ill w
is h I
wer
e al
one.
Rand
olph
Brid
gem
an
read
ing
to a
n em
pty
room
wha
t is i
t tha
t mak
es m
e w
ant
to d
rive
seve
nty-fi v
e m
iles o
ne w
ayin
a c
ar w
ith b
aldi
ng
res
and
an o
dom
eter
on
its se
cond
go
arou
ndto
read
poe
ms t
o a
man
ea
ng
a br
an m
uffi n
and
read
ing
a ne
wsp
aper
pi
ckin
g ra
isins
out
of h
is te
eth
and
mum
blin
g un
der h
is br
eath
th
at if
he
wan
ted
to h
ear g
odda
m p
oetr
y he
wou
ld sq
ueez
e hi
s gay
sons
hea
d un
l he
spou
ted
som
e of
that
shit
off
and
ther
e’s t
he c
oupl
e in
the
corn
er
suck
ing
face
so h
ard
i cou
ld b
e re
adin
ga
suic
ide
note
on
why
i pi
cked
this
coff e
e sh
op to
end
it a
ll an
d ta
ke th
em
with
me
whe
n i b
low
a sm
okin
g ho
lerig
ht h
ere
in th
e m
iddl
e of
this
strip
mal
l fo
rty
feet
dee
p an
d th
en th
ere’
s the
two
old
ladi
esev
ery
poet
ry re
adin
g ha
s the
m th
ey c
ome
toge
ther
and
sit r
ight
up
fron
t wai
ng
to h
ear s
omet
hing
serio
us
som
ethi
ng th
at ta
kes t
hem
bac
k to
the
days
of s
unda
y w
alks
a e
r chu
rch
of m
oonl
ight
driv
esan
d lo
vers
lane
s
but w
hen
my fi r
st p
oem
“bi
g di
ck w
illy”
has t
hem
cra
ckin
g a
smile
i’m th
inki
ng th
ey k
new
th
is gu
y to
o
Saha
ra S
mith
Star
s and
Sig
hing
Here
it is
: The
secr
et o
f the
so s
kin,
the
quie
t fl e
sh y
ou si
nned
aga
inst
an
d w
ore
so c
lean
ly th
in.
Here
it is
: the
bird
ben
eath
the
crac
ked
moo
n’s
ragg
ed ri
sing;
the
rose
s in
the
limp
room
dam
ply
dyin
g.
Ther
e ar
e tw
o m
o o
ns:
star
s and
sig
hing
.
We
are
the
brui
sed
mira
cle,
need
ling
the
chap
ped
and
cha
ele
d W
ord,
imm
acul
atel
y m
iscon
stru
ed a
nd o
vert
ongu
edan
d ba
dly
hear
d.
We
ra le
in th
e m
e th
at w
e w
ill b
endl
essly
bec
ome,
and
shuffl
e o
n th
e lo
ose
feet
of a
bor
row
ed b
a le
dru
m.
I am
my
na v
e la
nd. I
am
the
soil
and
the
scar
s;Th
e st
ains
of c
off e
e cu
ps a
nd c
ircui
ts
of th
e st
ars.
and
hist
ory.
..an
d hi
stor
y...
And
hist
ory,
the
spid
ered
orb
itof
a b
one
bene
ath
an a
cre
of w
et g
rass
.
Saha
ra S
mith
Wod
en
The
paga
n go
d of
poe
try
and
mad
ness
saw
his
love
r sta
ndin
g by
the
win
dow
.
He tr
ied
to te
ll he
rth
at h
er b
ody
was
a b
ank
of sn
owso
mew
here
out
side
Milw
auke
ew
here
the
trac
ks o
f som
e sm
all a
nim
al w
ere
bare
ly v
isibl
eby
moo
nlig
ht.
Her e
yes w
ere
euca
lypt
us tr
ees
that
ra le
din
the
rain
.
But h
e sa
id n
othi
ngso
he
wou
ldn’
t get
it w
rong
.
Our
wor
ds a
re p
aper
cup
sw
e di
p in
to th
e oc
ean
of o
ur lo
ngin
g.
To th
is da
y, I
cann
ot c
ompr
ehen
dth
e pr
oper
way
to te
ll yo
uth
at I
miss
you
but i
t’s so
met
hing
like
a p
ale
hand
in a
dar
k ro
omop
enin
g.
Rand
olph
Brid
gem
an step
fathers
jose
ph m
ust h
ave
had
the
toug
hest
dadd
y iss
ues n
ot th
at e
very
kid
does
n’t t
hink
thei
r fat
her i
s God
but w
hat i
f he
actu
ally
is
and
whe
n th
e ho
ly g
host
s be
en in
you
r wom
an
how
do
you
stac
k up
to th
at
mos
t men
wou
ld h
ave
dum
ped
her
and
no o
ne w
ould
hav
e bl
amed
him
or m
y fa
ther
who
cam
e ho
me
from
the
war
to a
pre
gnan
t wife
but l
ike
jose
ph h
e w
ante
d to
do th
e rig
ht th
ing
too
and
s ll
it a
te a
way
at h
imal
way
s fee
ling
like
the
odd
man
out
ev
ery
argu
men
t my
pare
nts
ever
had
end
ed w
ith m
y fa
ther
soh
yea
h w
ell y
ou fu
cked
th
e ne
xt d
oor n
eigh
bor
and
i won
der i
f it a
te a
way
at
jose
ph th
at w
ay to
o w
ith th
e fa
ther
the
son
the
holy
gho
stan
d m
arry
too
he m
ust h
ave
felt
like
a fi
h w
heel
like
mos
t of u
s ste
pfat
hers
like
jose
ph w
ith h
is ho
nora
ble
men
on
and
the
rest
of u
s with
no
men
on
at a
ll
Sara
h de
Sou
sa
The
Gar
den
of F
orgo
en
Le e
rs
It is
no c
hanc
e en
coun
ter
mee
ng
you
here
in th
e ga
rden
of fo
rgo
en
le e
rs
Spac
ious
ness
, Ogr
acio
us la
ndsc
ape
in w
hich
to b
uild
this
grav
eyar
d
Moo
nrise
ove
r the
Moj
ave
A va
lley
full
of m
onum
ents
In th
e be
ginn
ing
we
spok
elik
e cr
eatu
res
of th
e de
sert
, sca
veng
ers
afra
idev
en o
f our
selv
es
and
now
to fi
ndyo
u he
reis
to sp
eak
the
lang
uage
of s
owin
g
with
whi
ch w
e bu
ryse
eds,
hun
ger
in a
pla
ceth
ey c
anno
t gro
w
Mar
k Sc
hoen
knec
ht
Insi
de th
e H
ooph
ouse
Red-
win
ged
blac
kbird
sFa
lling
from
the
sky
over
Bee
be, A
rkan
sas.
No
one
coul
d ex
plai
n w
hat c
ause
d it.
Imag
ine
Shov
elin
g bi
rd c
arca
sses
From
the
gard
en,
Pilin
g th
emBy
the
doze
nIn
to a
buc
ket
Or w
heel
barr
ow.
I con
nue
my
wor
k,Ri
ppin
g ou
t the
sec
ons
of c
hard
The
beet
les h
ave
alre
ady
eate
n,Tr
ying
to sa
ve w
hat g
ood
harv
est i
s le
,W
hile
rain
drop
s bre
ak a
gain
st th
e pl
as c
can
opy,
Soun
ding
like
the
win
gsO
f a th
ousa
nd b
irds t
akin
g fl i
ght.
I hol
d on
e of
the
plan
ts u
p to
the
tarp
ove
rhea
d,In
spec
ng
it, c
aref
ul,
As th
e ta
ers
of a
cru
shed
win
g.
Mar
k Sc
hoen
knec
ht
Drea
m P
oem
: Of D
rivin
g a
Red
Conv
er b
le w
ith th
e Q
ueen
of t
he U
nder
wor
ld a
s My
Pass
enge
r
Whe
n I a
sk h
er to
tell
me
abou
t Hel
l,Sh
e sh
akes
bac
k he
r Be
e D
avis-
styl
e ha
irAn
d de
scrib
es th
e ci
rcle
Rese
rved
for t
hose
who
nev
er le
arne
d to
dan
ce,
How
they
’re h
ange
d fr
om n
oose
sTo
sway
and
kic
k fo
r ete
rnity
.
This
is he
r way
of s
ayin
g th
at th
e di
sco
is a
mus
t ton
ight
,Th
at sh
e di
dn’t
com
e al
l the
way
to C
leve
land
just
to si
t aro
und
ac
ng
dead
.
But t
hen
the
rain
s beg
in,
The fl e
sh o
f her
hum
an fo
rmW
ashi
ng a
way
Un
l al
l tha
t’s le
is a
skel
eton
With
an
ash-
blon
de w
igAn
d se
quin
ed g
own.
I dro
p her
off a
t the
aban
done
d sub
way
sta
on o
n Wes
t 25t
h Str
eet,
And s
he be
gins
her d
esce
nt do
wn t
he cr
umbl
ing s
tairs
tow
ard h
ome.
O D
eath
, my
quee
n. S
ister
.Ho
w lo
ng d
id I
igno
re y
our c
alls?
I lea
ve m
y w
indo
w o
pen
toni
ght,
List
enin
gFo
r the
scre
ams o
f re
sFa
r off
on In
ters
tate
90.
Sara
h de
Sou
sa
Juni
n de
los A
ndes
Last
nig
ht I
drea
med
of th
at w
indl
ess d
ayat
La
Boca
The
empt
y ho
use
s ll
ther
em
eani
ng a
life
was
pos
sible
I am
hap
py in
this
drea
m:
Wha
t per
fect
luck
that
the
elem
ents
shou
ldco
nspi
reto
brin
g a
win
dles
s day
a fi s
herm
an a
nd h
is lo
veto
geth
er.
Like
a m
antr
a, I
am c
han
ng:
Alum
ine,
Con
fl uen
cia,
Col
on C
ura
As if
to p
rese
rve
a m
yth
As if
to c
all b
ack
a gh
ost
As if
to w
itnes
s you
r joy
aga
inw
ater
like
gla
ss,
refl e
c o
n of
snow
, vol
cano
line
heav
y w
ith th
e w
eigh
tof
a fi
sh th
at d
oes n
ot k
now
it w
ill li
ve, y
ou w
ill le
t it g
o
Mia
Erik
sson
A m
ini-c
row
n of
four
love
sonn
ets
Winter
This
is w
here
it a
ll be
gan
with
you
r han
d ha
lf w
ay u
p m
y—an
d th
e sa
ndI h
ave
a kn
ot in
my
thig
h, in
grai
ned
with
a g
rain
.I w
as b
eing
lite
ral a
bout
pic
king
you
r bra
inw
ith a
spoo
n. Y
ou’re
full
of sc
abs b
ut w
hen
you’
re n
aked
you
shin
e lik
e a
ballp
oint
, an
andr
oid
and
you
tast
e lik
e a
bit t
ongu
e, a
mou
thfu
lof
blo
od, w
hen
I thi
nk o
f you
I th
ink
ofbe
ing
rippe
d ap
art.
I thi
nk th
e sn
ow is
eve
ryth
ing,
the
way
it m
uffl e
s the
soun
d of
car
s,tu
rns t
he w
orld
into
an
orch
estr
a w
hen
mel
ng,
stab
s eve
ry sh
amef
ul e
ye w
ith li
ght a
s brig
ht a
s sta
rs.
I wal
ked
will
ingl
y ah
ead
it w
as su
mm
er th
en.
Sprin
g It
was
sum
mer
then
you
had
been
drin
king
since
you
r bru
te fi
rst t
hrew
a fa
ther
ly fi
st a
t you
r sist
erEv
eryb
ody’
s got
a c
hild
hood
trau
ma
Shit
linge
rs n
ot li
ke b
ruise
s but
like
brok
en a
rter
ies o
r car
diac
dys
rhyt
hmia
The
coke
mak
es y
ou o
lder
see
if I
care
I al
way
s lik
ed y
our r
agge
d te
mpe
ran
d th
at y
ou w
ere
gonn
a di
e yo
ung
I s ll
go
to To
ront
oju
st to
feel
you
r eye
son
my
shou
lder
I ha
ve p
ut it
dow
nas
som
ethi
ng in
signifi c
ant
Char
les R
aff e
rty
The
Man
With
a P
iano
Str
appe
d to
His
Bac
k Th
e m
an c
an’t
mak
e it
up th
e st
airs
any
mor
e,so
he
liste
ns to
his
fam
ily m
ovin
gab
ove
him
in th
e ol
d ro
u n
esof
bat
hing
and
slee
p. H
e w
ishes
one
of t
hem
wou
ld c
ome
back
dow
n, p
ull u
p a
chai
r, an
d pl
ay h
ima
song
of l
ove
or a
song
of h
ope,
thou
gh h
e ha
sn’t
been
tune
d in
yea
rs. H
is w
ifeoff
ere
d to
take
som
e le
sson
sor
to b
uy h
im a
pia
no h
e co
uld
play
in a
ddi
on to
the
one
he c
arrie
d. H
e sa
idhe
’d ra
ther
she
just
pol
ish th
e on
e he
had
.He
cou
ld se
e it
was
full
of sm
udge
sfr
om th
e ch
ildre
n’s j
elly
-san
dwic
h ha
nds
whe
n he
cau
ght h
imse
lf in
the
bay
win
dow,
at e
veni
ng, a
s the
bird
s die
d do
wn
all o
ver
thei
r par
t of t
own.
It n
eede
d to
hav
e on
e de
cent
cho
rdba
nged
into
the
keys
so h
e co
uld
feel
itre
verb
era
ng
thro
ugh
him
like
a p
urpo
se.
Whe
n it
was
m
e fo
r bed
, he
coul
dn’t
take
the
pian
o off
, an
d hi
s wife
com
plai
ned
he w
as b
ruisi
ng h
er a
s the
y sle
ptor
mad
e lo
ve. E
ach
mor
ning
, he
claw
edhi
s way
off
the
ma
res
s the
y ke
pton
the
livin
g ro
om fl
oor.
The
stra
ps d
ug in
to h
is sh
ould
ers
and
his g
ut. T
here
was
abs
olut
ely
no g
ive,
and
thou
gh h
e so
me
mes
trie
d,he
cou
ldn’
t get
the
blad
e un
der t
he fa
t ban
dsof
leat
her.
Ironi
cally
, he
has n
ever
lear
ned
to p
lay,
but
of c
ours
e he
cou
ldn’
t rea
ch th
e ke
ys a
nyw
ay.
The
only
mus
ic h
e’ll
mak
e is
whe
n he
falls
ove
r dea
d.He
kee
ps te
lling
him
self
he h
as th
isto
look
forw
ard
to, t
he c
hord
of 8
8 fi n
gers
.
Char
les R
aff e
rty
The
Man
With
a L
ight
on
at 3
a.m
. Th
e m
oths
that
had
bee
n ge
ng
in a
ll w
eek
have
foun
d th
e on
ly la
mp
le o
n in
the
livin
g ro
om.
They
stru
t and
fl u
er a
cros
s its
fabr
ic.
They
loop
and
dip
abo
ve th
e lig
htth
ey lo
ve so
muc
h. O
nly
the
dark
ness
can
save
them
, but
he
know
sth
ey w
ill n
ot fl
y to
it. N
ow th
at h
e ha
sre
paire
d th
e sc
reen
s, n
owth
at th
e br
eeze
can
fi lte
r ove
rth
e nu
de b
ody
of h
is w
ifeon
the
Augu
st sh
eets
, now
that
the
com
mo
on
of th
eir l
andi
ngin
the
bed
won
’t w
aken
them
, he
can
crus
h th
em w
ith a
ss
uew
ithou
t fea
r of t
heir
retu
rn. T
he li
ving
room
isbr
uise
d w
ith th
e po
wde
r of t
heir
win
gs,
the
smud
ge o
f the
ir gu
tsas
he
pinc
hes t
hem
out
aga
inst
the
wal
l.He
leav
es th
eir m
arks
for t
he w
oman
to fi
nd. H
e w
ants
her
to k
now
that
he
love
s her
this
muc
h, th
at h
e ki
lled
thes
e m
oths
for h
er—
even
the
ones
that
wer
e bi
g en
ough
to a
lmos
t get
aw
ay, e
ven
the
ones
she
wou
ld h
ave
wan
ted
him
to sp
are.
Fal
l
Som
ethi
ng in
signifi c
ant
like
a sh
ould
er c
over
ed o
nly
with
thin
whi
te c
o o
non
an
unbe
arab
ly h
ot d
ayor
som
ethi
ng li
ke a
sign
/ or
a sa
ying
/ if
i can
tst
arve
d fo
r a e
n o
nso
me
thin
gno
one
ever
did
/ as
if /
it m
a e
red.
I lov
ed y
ou th
e m
ost.
I kne
w y
ouw
ere
a da
mag
ed m
othe
rfuc
ker.
I hel
d yo
ur w
hole
bod
y do
wn
and
it w
as li
ght a
s a fe
athe
r.Yo
u w
ere
like
a ba
by d
eer i
n th
e sn
ow.
Sum
mer
you
wer
e lik
e a
baby
dee
rin
the
snow
, my
darli
ng e
uphe
mism
my
Doct
or E
nem
y G
od a
nd L
ucife
rI w
onde
r abo
ut th
ose
who
do
not w
ant t
o ki
ll th
emse
lves
are
thei
r vei
ns le
ss p
reva
lent
thei
r kni
ves l
ess d
ecad
ent o
r the
irco
nvic
ons
not
wor
th fi
gh n
g fo
rI c
an’t
rem
embe
r now
if yo
u sm
iled
or n
ot if
Ich
oked
or n
ot if
itra
ined
all
day
/ as i
t alw
ays d
idba
ck th
en /
I bur
y m
y fe
et in
the
sand
this
is w
here
it a
ll be
gan.
Mia
Erik
sson
Joy
Ladi
n
Radi
o Ha
i
Repo
rter
des
crib
esea
rthq
uake
-bro
ken
girl
of fi
vein
a b
roke
n de
ck c
hair,
dyi
ng.
“Her
lips
,” he
says
, “ke
ep sh
akin
g.”
It isn
’t ne
ws,
but
he
can’
t sto
p w
atch
ing
the
girl’
s lip
s qua
ke li
ke fa
ult-l
ine.
I wan
t him
to p
este
rth
e go
vern
men
t and
God
her d
ying
repr
esen
ts,
to p
in a
nd fi
x th
e qu
akin
g w
orld
with
mor
ality
, tra
gedy
,bl
ame.
Bla
me
anyo
ne, a
nyth
ing,
I te
ll hi
m,
but c
hang
e th
e su
bjec
tbe
fore
her
lips
stop
shak
ing.
Rajiv
Moh
abir
Mus
eum
Som
eone
ope
ned
the
grav
eyar
d’s
door
. A b
reez
e sc
rimsh
aw—
scra
tche
s the
hal
ls. Gr
ey. A
sh.
Ceta
cean
ghos
ts so
lder
ed in
to sn
uff m
ulls
with
silv
er li
ning
. O
n yo
ur b
ones
I dra
w m
est
abbi
ng yo
ur lu
ngs u
n l
you
spit fi r
e. Sh
ould
I ha
ngyo
ur m
ilk-s
pit f
ram
e fr
om ra
ers
for f
athe
rs to
poi
nt o
utm
ascu
linity
to a
dven
ture
-eye
d so
ns,
nake
d un
der d
eath
etch
ings
, s rr
ed to
plu
nder
by th
e le
af-ra
le o
f a d
esec
rate
d te
mpl
e? It’
s m
eto
staff
the
scar
scor
e, to
cas
t new
god
sof
bon
e
Rajiv
Moh
abir
Blow
hole
I tra
ce y
our
pass
ing
on a
skin
mar
k, th
atsp
ot y
ou le
, a
mem
ento
, go
d-tr
ance
of tu
rned
up
surf.
Your
salt,
a v
espe
r whi
sper
edth
roug
h so
oted
nos
trils
,a
soot
h sa
id: F
uck.
Cunt
. Yet
fecu
nd. A
nd c
ome.
Ano
int
my
hollo
w w
ith ju
st th
e p
.A
cros
s in
coco
nut o
il
on
you
r fi n
gers
and
spre
adon
my
lips t
hat c
rack
like
whi
ps o
rw
isps o
f voi
ce in
scre
am as
I ris
k dr
owni
ng.
My
head
a h
ydra
,pr
epar
e to
em
pty
over
and
to b
e ov
erru
n.
Joy
Ladi
n
My
Fath
er’s
Pain
It’s
me
to ta
lk a
bout
his
pain
,th
e pa
in o
f a p
oint
mov
ing
at ri
ght a
ngle
s to
itsel
fac
quiri
ng le
ngth
and
bre
adth
and
dep
th
as so
me
poin
ts d
o,m
y fa
ther
exp
lain
ed—
I was
seve
n—dr
awin
g on
e, tw
o, th
ree,
four
dim
ensio
nson
a sc
rap
of y
ello
w p
aper
.
My
fath
er w
as in
pai
n. T
he p
oint
of h
is pa
inha
d be
com
e a
plan
eas
it m
oved
thro
ugh
him
at ri
ght a
ngle
s to
itsel
f. I s
at in
his
lap,
his p
ain
mov
ing
thro
ugh
me
at ri
ght a
ngle
s,ac
quiri
ng a
four
th d
imen
sion.
“Tim
e” h
e sa
id, d
raw
ing
angl
es a
nd a
rrow
s
on h
is sc
rap
of y
ello
w p
aper
.I d
idn’
t nee
d hi
s exp
lana
on.
Tim
e w
as in
side
me,
a d
imen
sion
of p
ain
mov
ing
at ri
ght a
ngle
s to
itsel
f
from
gen
era
on
to g
ener
a o
n.
Esta
nisla
o Lo
pez
Digi
tal G
rave
yard
s
In th
e w
alls,
web
traffi
c h
ums b
inar
ily w
ith g
rief
and
our m
etad
ata
whi
sper
s to
us n
o w
ords
of c
onso
la o
n.So
me
sleep
less
nig
hts,
I op
en E
’s pr
ofi le
and
let h
is lig
ht,
like
an infi n
ite p
roce
ssio
n, si
nk in
to th
e sh
eets
. O
ur m
etad
ata
mak
es e
xhib
i on
s of o
ur re
gret
s:
01:0
2:13
disp
u n
g m
o v
es fo
r his
suic
ide;
00:
15:5
4 sp
ent
sayi
ng n
othi
ng a
t all.
In th
e la
st p
ress
con
fere
nce,
as o
ur n
a o
n fi n
ally
falls
, it w
ill b
e sa
id th
at o
ur b
igge
st fa
ilure
s w
ere
thos
e pr
ivat
e on
es. T
he a
unt c
augh
t ste
alin
g gi
s
at th
e w
eddi
ng. T
he fr
iend
no
one
coul
d sa
ve.
Our
met
adat
a is
unab
le to
be
embo
died
. Our
bod
ies
self-
imm
olat
e to
mak
e a
poin
t. N
ot a
poi
nt a
s in
the
line
betw
een
two.
Not
a li
ne a
s in
of th
ough
t. Th
e in
anim
ate
rean
imat
es h
is bo
dy. M
y fi n
gers
gr
aze
his i
nfor
ma
on.
No
one
is re
ady
to fo
rgiv
e.
Esta
nisla
o Lo
pez
The
Very
Wid
e Sp
ace
Betw
een
Cert
ain
es
God
has
bui
lt a
mac
hine
from
my
own
bone
s.
His m
o v
es are
his o
wn
busin
ess.
The
soul
? An
ele
ctro
mag
ne c
sign
al p
ulsin
g fr
om st
ar c
lust
er to
star
clu
ster
, cra
ving
reci
proc
a o
n.
A gh
ost s
hip
saili
ng
alon
g gh
ost w
ater
. A m
achi
ne
desig
ned
to b
rush
aw
ay m
y fe
ars
like
spid
ers f
rom
a c
hild
’s ha
ir.
Som
e sa
y ther
e is
a pr
ecise
scie
nce
to it
all,
whi
ch te
rrifi
es m
e.
Recommended
