Virgula Suspensiva

Oh virgula my mark ; that offered a leash out of the party ; that offered its own clearance out of misdiagnosis it is like ; give me permission

Your mother crouched on the patio chair which was on the patio which ; was a clear thing ; out of the darkness of poetry

Concealed now but known then ; in her bed-body way ; she was a duodenum and your father downstairs barbecued deep in the open ; the smokeless dark

On the porch a few ; fast food shrimp which she ; took from the party for you ; away from all cunning and curling inside a yellow poinsettia plate

Gratitude rises ; up as though it is charity as though you ; are stupid not to want ; and wanting wants its way ; out as all effluvium wants ; she would have said there was one curl left on the breakable ; patio table and you would be crazy if you do ; not eat it

Rachel Hinton

Rachel Hinton

Rachel Hinton lives in Chicago, where she works as an editor and teacher. Her poems have appeared in Cimarron Review, SOFTBLOW, the Denver Quarterly, Apt, and other journals.