A Haunting

During those years my children were at school, I was like a ghost haunting the other parents, teachers and staff. Barely visible, gauzy, unnerving. Only the children could see me clearly and hear me – and the visiting grandmothers. I walked in the shadows of the drama mamas, dressed up to drop off their children. Dressed like rebels, dressed like liberals. To me they were the pawns of the government who allow...read more

Peaches

It’s later, now. After the peaches and the pie crust and after Dad said he has lymph cancer. It’s after spending 3 hours today blanching, peeling, slicing and spicing peaches I bought on Tuesday and placed in the brown paper bag, on the Mexican tile floor. Beneath the side board they rested into themselves for four days. Until their scent dripped thickly from the air and sweetened us with sunset...read more

Hole Self

Out on the edge of things- edge of comfort, politeness, legality, acceptability, of “what we do”, there aren’t a lot of arms holding you. There aren’t a lot of voices reassuring you. Because you’re somewhere no one’s ever been. You don’t know. And you know you don’t know. You are leaning, balancing over the edge toes tingling, gripping. Hoping to feel some security about the place that’s here. The...read more

The Box

Looking inside my basement I find dirt, cobwebs, spiders, dampness, old things. Canning jars full of unidentifiable preserves on shelves to my right. A bare bulb lights up the washer and dryer and I smell laundry soap and mildew. The air on my skin feels icy-sharp, cutting. An old rug is rolled up beneath the shelves and boxes are stacked at the back. One of the top boxes has been opened and newspaper is caught...read more

Loneliness

The wind is wildly throwing itself through the trees, and the streets. And the trees, they are bending and twisting. Peyote dancers feeling into the world beneath the world. The sound is like the ocean slamming itself against the steady shore. Then the wind seems to inhale. Silence. Just like when the water goes from noisy simmer to boil. For a moment it’s quiet. Then the papers fly off the tables and the cat...read more