The Hawk Kitchen 8:08pm
What does The Sky look like
to Juvenile Joanna
sucking Her Right Thumb
but NOT twiddling Her Hair
(It was in braids)
This Sky out the East Kitchen Window
looks like oatmeal
–
From The West Desk Window
The Sky looks like striated years
representing decades
of living, & nearly dying
of having two babies
& losing the third
of having grown children
having no more mother, no father
a second loving husband
& a house from which
to watch The Clouds
The Hawk West Desk Window 10:00pm
I believe I will live
to tell the story of My Death
& not the murky recitation
of past relatives
& misty shores
I will live to tell
of nightly dreams
coalescing
into daily performance
the history of which
enshrouded
by My Veil
of Truth
will come to My Listeners
as no surprise
The Hawk Living Room 7:30pm
I ate My Potato Salad
& drank a beer
here by the open Living Room Window
at the edge of The Tomato-coloured Couch
but that was at the edge of The Galaxy
where stars burst & die
I would lie My Head on a blanket
& listen to the aftershocks
wafting through
on the surge
of ocean mist
& bird call
The Hawk West Desk Window 10:11pm
When My Husband Holds My Left Forearm
I Am In The Child’s Embrace
I Must Grow Up Into My Self
& Be The Woman Now
Without My Mother, The Single Parent
for I had no father
The Hawk Basement NOON
The Glittering Oyster
Open-shelled
Is what We Delve Into
When We Die
With All Minds
Before
&
Ahead
Of Our
Selves
The Hawk Living Room 2:22pm
I was trying to re-write an excerpt
from My Shredded Manuscript
but I failed.
It was about
The New Millennium’s New Year’s Eve Party For The Second Coming of Christ
thrown by Me
The Second Coming — all sexual innuendos intact —
where I would be in a plane loaded with champagne
(the plane, not Me)
flying into earlier and earlier time zones
appearing at the head of the plane
naked, handing out champagne to all invitees at each airport
and The Whole World would be invited
but the dress requirement would be Come Naked.
I failed
to recount all the reasons why each nationality would want to attend
regardless of the weather
but the US would have wanted to know who else was going before they would accept
the invitation
Oh, and the Muslim countries would not be able to accept
because they cover their woman at all times
and would not allow them to disrobe for any occasion and besides, they don’t drink.
The rest of the world would be offended
by The Muslim Countries not going, so
MY PARTY FOR THE WHOLE WORLD could never happen
and the world would remain in conflict for the rest of time.
The Hawk West Desk Window 12:13pm
I saw An Angel Once
— while My Mother lay dying —
She Flew from Left to Right
amidst The Bows of A Lofty Pine
I told My Mother Where To Look
for Belly, Arms, Sleeves
She turned Her Head, My Mother did
so She Never Leaves
Joanna Gilman Hyde 