Heard

Currin, Jen (1972 - 0)

Original Text

Jen Currin, The Inquisition Yours (Toronto: Coach House Books, 2010): 23-24.

1Genius is the word for I've lost the job

2and my heart is breakfast.

3Cat over moon and step where you please.

4Please--I've applied myself

5teaching horse-see-monkey-do.

6It's ordinary to work at what we hate.

7Dust by dust you accumulate a life.

8The proof is running to market

9with a pig under its arm

10balled up like underwear.

11I'm not so gaudy and can't love any better.

12Who will I save next oh let me take a shower.

13No gentler than my father.

14I'm sorry he beat you and I'm sorry I didn't wake.

15But of all the places my brother can be found

16singing in his shrunken coat, I choose

17your temple. Kiss your third eye.

18For hardly ever is it granted so easily.

19With effort, the word is vulnerable.

20If the field must be divided, keep your shoes

21and I'll take the motorcycle.

22We're already more people than we were

23this morning. By that I mean I'm frightened

24of your inner children. Keep calling them puppies

25and you'll starve.

26I'm sorry about your grandmother.

27When we're alone--that's it.

28They kept calling us puppets

29and it only matters now.

RPO poem Editors

Ian Lancashire

RPO Edition

2011

Rhyme

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