and what‘s this we’re left with?
xxxxxxgreasy memory with membrane
corrupted          elastic lost

xxxxxxand foundering?    what’s that?
anatomy of shadow                or perhaps
xxxxxxa blackboard over-writ

in afterbirth (complete w/gene map) cast
xxxxxxaside; a 13 gallon cinch-sack cinched.
the hat: a mere receptacle, w/emblem obsolete.

xxxxxxthen comes the day we learn
the blue bag thing was all a scam
xxxxxx(were you surprised?)    the sham

recyclers split
xxxxxx(along with endings 1 – 7)
soon as Karma turned its back.

xxxxxxwhat’s left, indeed?     (after
caution is tossed) a muddy palette or
xxxxxxa well that’s never done with gushing

pocketful of pigment hued and crying.
xxxxxxin hindsight, the umbilical was cut
too quick (for horse & barn & open door).

xxxxxxno angels evidentxxxxjust
creatures breached and straggling with
xxxxx wings awash in rainbow slick.

***

Nina Corwin is the author of two books of poetry, The Uncertainty of Maps and Conversations With Friendly Demons and Tainted Saints. A chapbook, OutPatient Suite is forthcoming in 2016. Her poetry has appeared in From the Fishouse,Drunken Boat, Harvard Review, Hotel Amerika, New Ohio Review/nor and Verse. Corwin, a Pushcart nominee, also curates the literary series at Chicago’s Woman Made Gallery. In daytime hours, she is a psychotherapist known for her work on behalf of victims of violence.