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TRIVIA GAME FOR A SUICIDE BOMB by Heather Kirn

October 1, 2010 Contributed By: Heather Kirn

“For the parents in Naariya [of Baghdad], the clocks
are frozen at a quarter after ten.”  —The New York Times

For a chance to move on, for a shot at the win,
the answer is usually C.
Which household item will stop in its tracks
the moment the bomb detonates?

The answer, they think, is C.
The teammates huddle and nod.
The moment the bomb detonates
all the clocks on the walls cease to tick.

The teammates huddle and nod.
Now, what did a victim lose?
All the clocks on the walls cease to tick.
A father thought, only feet, almost nothing.

But what did the victim lose?
A life and thirty-three friends.
At first I thought, only his feet—almost nothing.
And what did the father quit?

A life, thirty-three friends,
or a clerkship at the hardware store?
Just what did the father quit?
They rule out almost everything.

A clerk at the hardware store
might have trouble counting costs.
But he ruled out almost everything.
The players frown, change turns.

He had trouble counting the cost
of war: his first son, his second, his third.
The players frown, change turns
and he collects the scattered toys

of his first son, his second, his third.
For a chance to move on, for a shot at the win,
he collects the scattered toys
and the one item that stops in its tracks.

Return to table of contents for Issue 3 Fall 2010

Filed Under: Poetry Posted On: October 1, 2010

Further Reading

Alexis M. Smith interviewed by Jennifer Spiegel: Iceberg Theory Chic

Alexis M. Smith is the author of Glaciers (Tin House Books, 2012), her debut novel, which I read (and this seems important) in one day following a month-long dip, or submersion (near drowning), into Moby-Dick. Why mention my Melville antics? Say what you will about the whale epic, but that book is dense. Like swimming in Campbell’s Chunky Sirloin Burger […]

Minnesota Women Writers in Short Fiction:
Darci Schummer interviewed by Raki Kopernik

Raw talent is not necessarily a predictor of success. However, engaging regularly in your practice, listening openly to critiques of your work, and not allowing rejection to deter you will all help you succeed.

The Money and the Talent
by Arne Weingart

You may have grown up thinking you were one thing or the other but at some point you have to decide, really decide which it is you bring to the table, and pardon me if I ask but whose table is it and where does it, so to speak, reside and what shape—if it has […]

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