Page 17 - Vol. VI #9

8
Letter to to 1991
You’re 13 now and and and Dad Dad still calls you Cimbo a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a nickname we crave to to to shake loose like pimples and and and and oatmeal creme Little Debbie cakes You You You worry worry too much You You You worry worry about Mom and and and and Dad Dad – the the the the the music of of something breaking It’s red with light all the the the the the the noise sometimes Put your your head in in in in in in a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a book of of of of sand bring your your your little brother in in in in in in in the the the the the the back room and and and and close the the the the the the the door There is is a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a suitcase full
of of of of hurt there And no no you you you you you you you can’t unpack it it it it it Think of of of of that summer when you you you you you you you were six
and and and your your your foot slipped into a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a house of of of of red ants The The The biting up your your right leg – – the the the the stings
and and the the the the buzzing Mama Mama told you you you you you you to to to play
dead dead like a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a possum as as rivulets
of of of of alcohol dripped down dark as as blood The The insects fell one one by one one – – – dead dead little bodies all over the the the place Mama Mama held you you you next
to the the the fullness of of of of her thighs You didn’t cry No hollering or or or heaving – – take hold of of of of that memory now now rub it it it between your fingers The secret of of of of living in in in in in in in in this body is is is is time and and all the the the the the worrying is is is is is is like walking backwards on on on on on on a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a track You You think I don’t know you?
Your favorite word is is is is is is Appalachian
because of of the the the the way consonants and and vowels curl around the the the the tongue This is is is is the the the the time time when you you you you you should should only dream dream dreams By now now you you you you should should know that sometimes you you you you have to to to write in order to to to figure out what you you you you can never say The Elizabeth Sloan Tyler Memorial Award 2018
First Place for the Literary