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An Evocation of Herman Melville I seek to speak all I knowof my life at close quartersin the ocean’s experience,having sailed its heartless swell,its dark night of the deepseven in the sight of landand there the peaceable bounty. My flesh is frost-witheredin cheerless chill deadening.I feel my heart’s hungerthat eatsContinue Reading

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Mostly my neckjust always hurtsthey’re heavynever still or asleep at onceI rarely sleep myself I feed them cat foodsometimes micethe pet store girl is kindlooks at our shadowwants to know their namesthat they smell deadwhen frighteneddefecate in my braincausing dark thoughtsMy children were takenI’ve never mothereddon’t remember my owntrauma interferesContinue Reading

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Stone vats of colored dyes and white liquids.Hides of cows, sheep, goats, and camels.The eager salesman explained the process,how hides need to soak for two or three daysamong cow urine and pigeon fecesto clean and soften the skins for the dyes,natural colorants like indigoand henna and poppy. Then they areContinue Reading

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Little brass welt how dare you try to mock meWe’ve come farther in one thousand & oneNights than any blue-eyed continental explorerI should shove you in a junk drawer & lose youFor letting in the nameless men of the palaceWho have become accustomed to measuringThis cursed room for their nextContinue Reading