Allan Peterson
Encounter
Latin intones the names
wing remiges tail retrices
manus hand in the bird instead of
conversely
that sat before me and sang
unaccompanied.
I was a post harmless
dark debris beside the stairs
I could have reached out
I could have said
from the standpoint of the bones
your wing is my hand
and I remember this spring
when the rat snake ate your babies
I imagine I’d sound
god-like friendly like the big-hearted
helicopter
repeating a name above the house
fircula fircula
me fingering wishbones like a madman.
Allan Peterson's fourth book, Fragile Acts, is the second title in the new McSweeney's Poetry Series and a finalist for both the 2013 National Book Critics Circle Award and the Oregon Book Award. His last book is As Much As from Salmon Press, 2011. Other books are All the Lavish in Common (2005 Juniper Prize), Anonymous Or (Defined Providence Prize 2001) and five chapbooks, notably Omnivore, winner of the 2009 Boom Prize from Bateau Press. His next book, Precarious, is forthcoming from 42 Miles Press in 2014.
Return to September 2013 Edition
Latin intones the names
wing remiges tail retrices
manus hand in the bird instead of
conversely
that sat before me and sang
unaccompanied.
I was a post harmless
dark debris beside the stairs
I could have reached out
I could have said
from the standpoint of the bones
your wing is my hand
and I remember this spring
when the rat snake ate your babies
I imagine I’d sound
god-like friendly like the big-hearted
helicopter
repeating a name above the house
fircula fircula
me fingering wishbones like a madman.
Allan Peterson's fourth book, Fragile Acts, is the second title in the new McSweeney's Poetry Series and a finalist for both the 2013 National Book Critics Circle Award and the Oregon Book Award. His last book is As Much As from Salmon Press, 2011. Other books are All the Lavish in Common (2005 Juniper Prize), Anonymous Or (Defined Providence Prize 2001) and five chapbooks, notably Omnivore, winner of the 2009 Boom Prize from Bateau Press. His next book, Precarious, is forthcoming from 42 Miles Press in 2014.
Return to September 2013 Edition