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Clear Skies, Unseasonably Cold
by Jackie Craven

July 21, 2020 Contributed By: Jackie Craven

Image courtesy Joel Filipe

The day Challenger launched,

we watched CNN from the bar

at Canaveral Pier. Mist rose

 

from icy water. Tourists sipped

Piña Coladas with pineapple

and paper flags. Giddy voices

 

chanted time in reverse:

Twenty-one seconds till liftoff.

Or—Did the announcer say

 

we’re down to twelve?

My husband’s lips turned blue

in the uncertain morning light.

 

We didn’t know,

but already suspected

trouble in his cells.

 

When did he begin to count down?

 

Life is measured

in small subtractions:

T minus this, T minus that.

 

Every winter, pieces wash ashore.

 

 

Filed Under: Poetry Posted On: July 21, 2020

Further Reading

MAYDAY Magazine: Issue 1 Spring 2009

  FEATURED ARTIST David-Baptiste Chirot NECESSITY IS THE MOTHERFUCKER OF INVENTION thoughts on the delete button THE NEW EXTREME EXPERIMENTAL AMERICAN POETRY a gallery featuring the visual works of poet, artist, and human rights activist David-Baptiste Chirot Jared Schickling, David-Baptiste Chirot FINDING THE ROOOT an interview conducted by Jared Schickling with David-Baptiste Chirot that will […]

How to Drink Tea in the Colonies by Dana Kroos

I. Mugs are for coffee.  Tea is served in china cups with handles too small to get your fingers through, on saucers, with a spoon, on a tray which also holds cream and sugar and (when you are very fortunate) scones and jam.  Although these things are for you, they are not yours for the […]

Saturday Evening by Clarisse Francillon
(Translated from French by Michelle Bailat-Jones)

[Editors’ Note: Clarisse Francillon was awarded a special prize in 1943 by the Swiss Schiller Foundation. This story was published by the foundation as a “novella” in 1944.]     “The burgundy is more dressy, but the navy, of course…” Rita tilted the mirror. The woman placed her foot on the ground and the suede […]

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