one by one
her cats saunter in a sign of relief
no red streaks torn ear folds limping
limbs they’ve escaped the screeching sleep-
jolting catfight of early dawn memories sketch
themselves in charcoal another bright sunny
day seventh grade unlocking
her bike at bell time the girl is
upon Madisen before she can defend
herself see ya, spazz followed this time
by a sturdy blow to the head frustrations capped
in anger a flaming mask for grief the boy’s
life her mother had taken
drunk behind the wheel a mother
serving time a daughter
alone Madisen bearing no response then
or now another catfight
to makes her flinch
a new light
she had always been open to the idea of readings
perhaps to be understood through tealeaves
but tonight, she’d hold out her palms
for the old woman to chose
the more revealing of the two
insights that followed
were not a surprise for Madisen
though presented in a new light—
the strikingly short, enjambled
lines
beneath her right index finger
demonstrating a painful, fragmented childhood
certainly these could explain
the drinking, and divorce
loss of a brother
the laughter and jeers from so-called playmates
about her shakiness
all leading to the next crease a strong
headspace of intellect; an abrupt decision
to make that transition, the woman speculated
as Madisen nodded, well aware of her own cerebral
retreats for survival
and this line, tracing
its way down to her wrist one of clarity
and precision, so lengthy
robust and healthy, destined
to live a long life well into your nineties,
she was pleased to confirm
although by now Madisen was hearing only herself
oh shit she murmured aloud that long?—
and as she was a child once more.
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Donna Hill lives in British Columbia, Canada with her three sons. She has
been writing poetry since 1998, drawing much of her writing style for
realism from life around her, her family, and work as a child educator. She
is a part time university student earning her Batchelor of Arts in English
and Creative Writing. Donna is also co-creator and poetry editor of Erosha,
an online literary journal of the erotic. Her poems have appeared
internationally, in such issues as Teak Round Up, One Dog Press, Poems
Niederngrasse, Poetry Motel, Peshekee River Poetry, and Slipstream, and have
also been published by numerous literary webzines. "My Hands Write When I
Need Them To," took first prize in Comrades first annual poetry contest in
the UK, and was invited into their anthology entitled, "Uno," 2002. Clean
Sheets Press has published her poem, "Carolina Rain" in their latest
anthology, December 2001. Donna's poetry site can be found at
www.donnamichelehill.com.
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