NEW POEM: NOBODY'S FAULT

(Art work by Jack Pierson, photo by Brian Forrest)

I began a poem in late November but couldn't get past the first line. It sat with all other remnants in my WIP file until this afternoon, when I strolled past it again and suddenly knew where to go with it. Done.

NOBODY’S FAULT

There are gobblyns in the deep dark
of any slumber, human
in form but Other
in deed and humor

We try to name them
Make pets of them in daylight
Or at least explain their scrabbled walk
as nobody’s fault

We think admitting our fear
gives them power

We suspect our disgust
is a map to family secrets

Morning is a time for drugs and hurry
Clean clothes and not meeting
each other’s eyes
until we have forgotten again
enough to go along


© 2010 Maggie Jochild
Began November 2009, finished 13 April 2010, 1:54 p.m.