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MIMI
I wish to
stand up on the
morning train, with its
tank full of zombies, &
scream like mimi in a
rage: Do you know why
you’re here—Do you care
that you exist—Do you even,
now be honest, like your life?
but then,
of course, they would
take me away they would
have to alert the conductor
who would contact the
base with his two way radio & the
train’d go out of service while we
waited for paramedics—I would BE
that sick passenger—they would
wrap me in a jacket that gets
tighter when you squirm & the
zombies would stare & scratch
their heads—for my questions had
been much too difficult.
AUTOPSY
see contusions on the
knuckles here & dirt
beneath the nails as if she
fought against life—against
death—note the lesions on her
wrist bones from the
mind-forged manacles—
observe the
cracked & broken ribs, the
welts of purple on her back,
like those that came from a paint gun where
she was victim of assault from
bad ideas—see lacerations
round her neck where
she was
noosed by the will of others the
blood in her ears from the scolding
of elders the ankles
rubbed raw from the
ball & chain of an
eight-hour job—the
scars on her heart from
early childhood
—and her brain is
imploded from
too much thought—that is what
ultimately killed her.
VISITOR
we embrace her like the
prodigal son & caress her
much too quickly as if she’s
going to stick around—we even
set up house for her, donning
new sheets, sweeping old rugs,
adorning our flesh in a
brand new outfit—a shrink
would report that you
cannot trust her with her
manic changeling nature & her
brilliant sunny eyes—but we
pooh it & fall deeply in love—
as she leaves us out cold, sick &
trembling—tricked again into wearing a
miniskirt when it is merely a 32 degrees—our
fiddly, flighty, fickle friend
named Spring.
Ryn Gargulinski is an artist & writer whose work includes essays,
articles, poems, illustrations and an array of handcrafted tchotchkes. She
has created three illustrated chapbooks (with a fourth forthcoming for
2004), two collaborate CDs, a children’s picture book series, two
illustrated humor books for adults, and, among a bastion of other artwork,
an entire line of “Lucky Voodoo Dolls.” Please visit her website at
www.ryngargulinski.com or shop
her online stores at
www.cafeshops.com/ryndustries &
www.cafeshops.com/ryndustriesny |