Ode to the Cop Next to the One with the Pepper Spray
Your cheek turns, Christ-like
from your buddy with the buddha
belly blowing chemicals
on crowds of my students.
Rapunzel
Think what it must have been like for her, caged
in her tower, the small window cut into dark
stone, the hours it took to brush
Tracks
Image: “Night Train” by Gerrie Paino. “Tracks” was written by Matthew Murrey for Rattle’s Ekphrastic Challenge, April 2024, and selected as the Artist’s Choice.
I’m Convinced You Actually Liked the Whole Wheat Pancakes
Remember the first apartment we chose? When it was time
for us to finally live together and we had to find something fast
and imperfect. With the landlord who barged in every time we were too
loud—I think she had an 8 p.m. bedtime.
At the Spring
Before she could drink from the garden hose
a cardinal landed on her wrist
and plunged its beak into the clear bubbling.