{"id":55368,"date":"2021-01-03T03:03:24","date_gmt":"2021-01-03T09:03:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/artistsofutah.org\/15Bytes\/?p=55368"},"modified":"2021-01-02T21:27:25","modified_gmt":"2021-01-03T03:27:25","slug":"five-poems-by-cindy-king","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/artistsofutah.org\/15Bytes\/five-poems-by-cindy-king\/","title":{"rendered":"Five Poems by Cindy King"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"READ LOCAL First<\/strong> boasts Utah\u2019s most comprehensive collection of poets and authors. For this inaugural month of 2021, we present five poems by Cindy King. Her work has appeared in The Sun<\/em>,\u00a0Callalo<\/u>o<\/em>,\u00a0Prairie Schooner<\/em>,\u00a0Crab Orchard Review<\/em>,\u00a0River Styx<\/em>,\u00a0Cincinnati Review<\/em>,\u00a0Gettysburg Review<\/em>,\u00a0North American Review<\/em>, and elsewhere.<\/p>\n

Recently, King’s poetry was\u00a0 featured on The Slowdown<\/em>, an NPR podcast hosted by former Poet Laureate Tracy K. Smith. A link to this podcast concludes our selection of King’s poems below.<\/p>\n

King’s book, Zoonotic<\/em>, is forthcoming from Tinderbox Editions later this year. Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, she currently lives in St. George, where she is an assistant professor of creative writing at Dixie State University and editor of The Southern Quill<\/em>.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Navigation<\/strong><\/h4>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

I sometimes believe that the breath, blunt-forced from his body<\/h4>\n

Had been returned.<\/h4>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Laid out on the collapsible cot<\/h4>\n

He begins to move. Beyond ambulance windows<\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Dusk joins the sky\u2019s dark pieces,<\/h4>\n

Inspiring all things to come together.<\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Tom had a way of connecting, of understanding the whole.<\/h4>\n

The new moon offers its infant light,<\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Closing wounds, joining fractured bone.<\/h4>\n

It restarts his heart and the bright organs sing.<\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Vessels, veins open for joy. Love restores flesh<\/h4>\n

to memory\u2019s bare bone: In the black night, stars appear.<\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong><\/h4>\n

How the sheet falls as he rises and passes through double doors.<\/h4>\n

And still I believe he is on his way home.<\/p>\n

<\/h4>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Rivers Runneth Black with Mascara<\/strong><\/h4>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

The widows soar-eth with parasols of flies,<\/h4>\n

with pressed-powder desert faces, the widows runneth over.<\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong><\/h4>\n

With pillbox hats and fascinators,<\/h4>\n

the widows runneth,<\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong><\/h4>\n

widows behind blind glasses and tinted windows,<\/h4>\n

broken widows runneth, widows streaked with rain.<\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong><\/h4>\n

The widows walk-eth the widow\u2019s walk in button boots,<\/h4>\n

widows wear-eth corsets to train their sighs.<\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong><\/h4>\n

In bustles and petticoats, widows rustle-eth,<\/h4>\n

shower-eth earth with the feathers of ravens.<\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong><\/h4>\n

They bring-eth their lips together, hide-eth their lipstick teeth.<\/h4>\n

Merry widows will work-eth to please you.<\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong><\/h4>\n

With belladonna, with nightshade, widows<\/h4>\n

Coif-eth their hair with the precision of angels.<\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong><\/h4>\n

The widows watch-eth pornography<\/h4>\n

and are-eth not ashamed.<\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong><\/h4>\n

They do-eth the Hustle, a spinoff<\/h4>\n

of a spinoff that is twice as good as the original.<\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Ever certain of the finale,<\/h4>\n

widows will always see-eth things through.<\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong><\/h4>\n

She\u2019s a killer, killer queen, gunpowder, gelatin<\/em>\u2026<\/h4>\n

they sing-eth, and you may block your ears<\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong><\/h4>\n

but still, you can hear the widows. Widows<<\/h4>\n

surround-eth you, pass-eth you between them<\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong><\/h4>\n

like a pink tetherball. They drop-eth you in a basket,<\/h4>\n

push-eth you through reeds<\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong><\/h4>\n

down rivers that runneth black with mascara.<\/h4>\n

<\/h4>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Immaculate Conception<\/strong><\/h4>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Strawberry rhubarb<\/h4>\n

The baboon presents<\/h4>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong><\/h4>\n

And here\u2019s the little diner at breakfast time,<\/h4>\n

where she who is the-customer-<\/h4>\n

who-is-always-right hurls her<\/h4>\n

hotcakes back at the server<\/h4>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Will you live out the rest of your life alone<\/h4>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Wholly caffeinated<\/h4>\n

Wholly obscene<\/h4>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Aren\u2019t you tired of extraordinary<\/h4>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong><\/h4>\n

No one is really whispering about you<\/h4>\n

Their lips are wax<\/h4>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong><\/h4>\n

You check them out at the checkout<\/h4>\n

while the checker checks your items<\/h4>\n

10 items or less<\/h4>\n

you have 11 or fewer<\/h4>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong><\/h4>\n

You make a wish upon a star<\/h4>\n

then change your mind<\/h4>\n

but it\u2019s too late<\/h4>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong><\/h4>\n

You agreed to that date with a priest<\/h4>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Don\u2019t worry<\/h4>\n

He won\u2019t<\/h4>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong><\/h4>\n

There are only so many eggs<\/h4>\n

and then none<\/h4>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong><\/h4>\n

No reason to gawk at newborns<\/h4>\n

and their comically small,<\/h4>\n

grotesquely soft heads<\/h4>\n

that their mommies kiss<\/h4>\n

and slap once in a while<\/h4>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Stop calling your pet \u201cbaby\u201d<\/h4>\n

She\u2019ll never make love to you<\/h4>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong><\/h4>\n

No need to paint my mouth with lipstick<\/h4>\n

nor my eyes into black peacocks<\/h4>\n

No need to purge the chocolate ice cream<\/h4>\n

though I\u2019d very much like to<\/h4>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong><\/h4>\n

I want to be cherished and adored<\/h4>\n

My hips shout<\/h4>\n

as time moves throughout my body<\/h4>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong><\/h4>\n

The thought, I remember<\/h4>\n

but that feeling<\/h4>\n

What is it?<\/h4>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Survivor\u2019s Guide to Grief, Loss, Bereavement, Life-Imploding Tragedies, and Various Other Kinds of Human Suffering (Abridged)<\/strong><\/h4>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Eliminate action verbs<\/h4>\n

Say deceased<\/em> not dead<\/em><\/h4>\n

Don\u2019t think that you\u2019ll ever remodel the kitchen<\/h4>\n

Even with the modifications to your diet,<\/h4>\n

the polar icecaps will melt,<\/h4>\n

the average surface temperature of the Earth will continue to rise,<\/h4>\n

and still, that dress will never make you look like a movie star<\/h4>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong><\/h4>\n

As the house burns, the stove confesses<\/h4>\n

its love for the refrigerator<\/h4>\n

(who would have known?)<\/h4>\n

For all of those years they stood side by side<\/h4>\n

To save on tissues,<\/h4>\n

do your crying in the shower<\/h4>\n

If your clothes are dirty,<\/h4>\n

throw them out. Spit<\/h4>\n

if it\u2019s hard to swallow<\/h4>\n

If it\u2019s ugly, close your eyes<\/h4>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong><\/h4>\n

The human brain is not symmetrical<\/h4>\n

That\u2019s not a rose, it\u2019s an axe<\/h4>\n

That\u2019s not music, but how were you to know.<\/h4>\n

That\u2019s no cemetery, it\u2019s landfill.<\/h4>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Your daughter may be my spouse\u2019s killer<\/h4>\n

Your diagnosis may be my tax return<\/h4>\n

When God falls asleep, it\u2019s difficult<\/h4>\n

for him to hear my prayers<\/h4>\n

Sometime even the wind is confused<\/h4>\n

A few of us can pretend we\u2019re not looking,<\/h4>\n

or look as if we are not pretending<\/h4>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong><\/h4>\n

At some point comes the wisdom<\/h4>\n

You came for the insight<\/h4>\n

And stayed for the refreshments<\/h4>\n

the drumroll<\/h4>\n

the curtain call<\/h4>\n

It\u2019s coming, believe me<\/h4>\n

Let me tell you, it\u2019s coming<\/h4>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong><\/h4>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Little Oaths & Apologies <\/strong><\/h4>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong><\/h4>\n

By the time you heard it again,<\/h4>\n

a therapy dog foiled the bank heist,<\/h4>\n

the old covered bridge was washed out in the storm,<\/h4>\n

the dictator was almost overthrown,<\/h4>\n

and Tom, he almost survived.<\/h4>\n

The man who slapped his child<\/h4>\n

came close to saying sorry.<\/h4>\n

Sorry<\/em>, you can say it in just about<\/h4>\n

any situation and feel practically absolved,<\/h4>\n

better about how you\u2019ve labored in the yard,<\/h4>\n

in a thunderstorm, yanking out ivy<\/h4>\n

that will grow back again next year.<\/h4>\n

Understand that these are Mother Nature\u2019s intentions:<\/h4>\n

listen to the sizzle of rain on the blacktop,<\/h4>\n

bacon as it weeps in cast iron,<\/h4>\n

radio static, television applause.<\/h4>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong><\/h4>\n

For whatever it was they told you, forgive them,<\/h4>\n

because it just isn\u2019t true\u2014<\/h4>\n

mistakes were made, oversights and misunderstandings<\/h4>\n

Thank you for holding<\/em><\/h4>\n

your (desperate) call (for help) is being transferred and will be taken <\/em><\/h4>\n

in the order in which it was received by the next available representative <\/em><\/h4>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong><\/h4>\n

But he did <\/em>complain about the back of the baby\u2019s head,<\/h4>\n

about how it was blocking his view of her breast,<\/h4>\n

and the Cutlass Supreme really did<\/em> fly<\/h4>\n

across the river and antiquated ruins.<\/h4>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong><\/h4>\n

And the weeks progressed, coupons<\/h4>\n

expired, milk spoiled in the dead of night\u2014<\/h4>\n

substantiated, confirmed, corroded, ineffable,<\/h4>\n

and unspeakably, beautifully sorry.<\/h4>\n

<\/h4>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Listen to King’s poetry on NPR’s podcast The Slowdown<\/em><\/a>, hosted by former Poet Laureate Tracy K. Smith.<\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

READ LOCAL First boasts Utah\u2019s most comprehensive collection of poets and authors. For this inaugural month of 2021, we present five poems by Cindy King. Her work has appeared in The Sun,\u00a0Callaloo,\u00a0Prairie Schooner,\u00a0Crab Orchard Review,\u00a0River Styx,\u00a0Cincinnati Review,\u00a0Gettysburg Review,\u00a0North American Review, and elsewhere. Recently, King’s poetry was\u00a0 featured on […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1566,"featured_media":55371,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_piecal_is_event":false,"_piecal_start_date":"","_piecal_end_date":"","_piecal_is_allday":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[35,2513],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-55368","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-literary-arts","category-read-local-first"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/artistsofutah.org\/15Bytes\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Kingphoto.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-05-04 09:26:35","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/artistsofutah.org\/15Bytes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/55368","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/artistsofutah.org\/15Bytes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/artistsofutah.org\/15Bytes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/artistsofutah.org\/15Bytes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1566"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/artistsofutah.org\/15Bytes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=55368"}],"version-history":[{"count":20,"href":"https:\/\/artistsofutah.org\/15Bytes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/55368\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":55694,"href":"https:\/\/artistsofutah.org\/15Bytes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/55368\/revisions\/55694"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/artistsofutah.org\/15Bytes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/55371"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/artistsofutah.org\/15Bytes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=55368"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/artistsofutah.org\/15Bytes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=55368"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/artistsofutah.org\/15Bytes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=55368"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}