Edward Michael O’Durr Supranowicz
OF CURSE
Many moons ago —
Some full, some not —
My great-grandmother
Had the Gift.
She could put a spell
On someone and make them
Beg to have it removed.
Nobody believes such anymore.
Besides, it ain’t polite.
But when I am forced to agree
With people very disagreeable,
I find myself saying
“Of curse. Of curse.”
Jill Hoffman (after des Granges)
Shivani Mehta
YOUR MOTHER SENT ME FLOWERS
ON VALENTINE’S DAY
Strange, how it always seemed to rain
when she called,
everyday for three months
after I left.
Marriage is forever.
After a while I knew who was calling
by the abrupt turn in weather.
Men can’t help themselves
when they see a pretty girl.
A sudden stillness in the air gave her away —
a purposeful calm promising violence,
the way the resting beak of a bird of prey
presages torn flesh, crushed bones.