The Meaning of Roundling
With the edges
of our eyes, we catch glimpses
of roundlings peeking through windows.
Gentle creatures, ready to bolt,
fragile with dark traumas
passed onto them.
Best not to talk
in x,y,z. A whisper,
“why didn’t you” or “you should”
is an attack of syntax, a barbed construction
that shatters them. They will run
with the thought,
“It is not safe.”
Once they flee,
the void aches with absence
of oval tenderness.
Sometimes they can be enticed
with soft fruits and scents of fresh
lemon and tangerine.
Round stones
will please.
Feed them colors,
speak in fluted ragas,
offer acceptance.
C Albert‘s collages, drawings, photos, assemblages, comics and poetry have been widely published in cool places such as Ink Sweat & Tears, Gargoyle, Grey Sparrow, Indianapolis Review, also upcoming in pacificREVIEW: The Mirror Maze and Propertius Press anthology: Canticles and Spheres. An award winning artist, her works are featured at Four Corners Art in Seattle.
The text of “The Meaning of Roundling’ was first published in Mannequin Envy and on IS&T on 24th February 2011 (now in our archive site).