Poetry — April 19, 2012 13:12 — 0 Comments

Ode To Flotation Device – Rachel Kessler

You forced my head down.

I force the head down.

I describe thou as torture.

I am wetly discarded.

you caused me to struggle.

Held tightly, not looked at.

Make broad mine shoulders.

I am the truth of weak shoulders.

Thou didst strengthen my stroke.

Reviled for your weakness.

Grasped between thighs.

My reliance on legs.

I cradle your legs.

Thou revealed my dependence.

I bind and I strap.

I didst look for thou.

I force the head down.

Bio:

The seeds for AFTER THE PARTY PANTOUM were planted in Seattle in Rachel’s writing group, which consists of her, Rebecca Hoogs, Jason Whitmarsh and Kevin Craft. She co-founded Typing Explosion with Sierra Nelson, and the Vis-a-Vis Society with Nelson and Sara-Paul Ocampo. Both groups are literary performance art collaborations in Seattle. Her poems have appeared in Tin House, TATE magazine, and USA Today.

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What am I?

Bioluminescent eye
That sees by the shine
Of its own light. Lies

Blind me. I am the seventh human sense
And my stepchild,
Consequence;

Scientists can't find me.

Januswise I make us men;
Glamour
Was my image then—

Remind me:

The awful fall up off all fours
From the forest
To the hours…

Tick, Tock: Divine me.

-- Richard Kenney

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