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Lauren Mallett

Caesura in the Thoracic Age

I clean the bathroom. You sweep the floors.
     You mow the lawn. I seal the windows.
          You say, is the sun shining on you?
I hear, is this song turning you on?
     You’re the Philosophy. I’m the Letters.
          I watch you replace the suet. Shoo begone
the squirrels. You don’t believe in privacy.
     I’ve had my identity stolen. You don’t believe
           in a rug unto carpet. I believe it has the potential
to look nice. You unplug in a storm. I roll over.
     Say don’t worry. You count the seconds
          between lightning and thunder. I’m looking.
What at, you ask. The door. You frenetic
     you furrow. I ask, can we turn down the neuroses?
            You quiet. I see. I’ve gone and hurt you
with my poem. I love your nose. What if
     our bed was a boat? You’re the dog. I’m the cat.
          Are we on the Columbia? I’m curled
in your haunch. You make a joke. I have a feeling.
     You’re on trial. We the bundle of birds.
          I’m the tribunal. The apology.
               The party brought by seed.

Biography

Picture
​Lauren Mallett’s (she/her/hers) poems appear in Salamander, Passages North, Fugue, RHINO, and other journals. She lives on Oregon’s north coast, formerly the land of the Clatsop people. Find her at www.laurenmallett.com.
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ISSN 2639-426X
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  • Home
  • About
    • Contributors List
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    • Contact
  • Press
  • Issues
    • Issue 28
    • Issue 27
    • Issue 26
    • Issue 25
    • Issue 24
    • Issue 23
    • Issue 22
    • Issue 21
    • Issue 20
    • Issue 19
    • Issue 18
    • Serenity
    • Issue 17
    • The Audio Room
    • Issue 16
    • Issue 15
    • Issue 14
    • Play It Again
    • Issue 13
    • Issue 12
    • Issue 11
    • Issue 10
    • Issue 9
    • Issue 8
    • Issue 7
    • Issue 6
    • Hand to Mouth
    • Issue 5
    • Issue 4
    • Issue 3
    • Issue 2
    • Issue 1
  • Submissions