POETRY BY NOLCHA FOX

When the Dam Burst

The church spire, a memory

marker to our town, surrounded

by a watery wasteland.

Bodies float, puffy clouds on

muddy water-sky, remember them.

See Saint Irene, who sprinkled holy water

on artificial flowers by the altar. God

loves fresh blossoms.

See Saint Tommy, who baptized his brother,

blasting him with the garden hose. Brotherly

love.

See Saints Dan and Joan, hands

clasped, even in death.

Love is forever.

See Saint Joe, wrapped around

the spire. He forgot to leave when

the cemetery moved. Joe loves this town.

Chaos and the dead arising, God’s

love and blessings. Remember us.

Because I Followed You

Because your storm-tossed hair and

cloudburst eyes were a crumpled

love letter tossed in the fire, a

faded photo of a forgotten face

Because you saw

me see you and

you rocketed out the café

door, an unguided missile

Because I followed you

only to trace the

scar on your chin, only

to hear your voice

Because you looked back at me when

you stepped off the curb and

that big truck couldn’t

stop in time

Because the preacher said some

nice things about you even though

you were a stranger and

he didn’t know you, all

Because I followed you.

The Voice in His Head

Can’t you see from the window?

Step onto the ledge.

Look down.

Where are the swings that tossed you into the air?

Where is the tree with your carved initials,

marking your first kiss of slobber and sweat?

All flattened, all gone.

See how they pour concrete over your childhood.

For a blink, that dirty desolation will be virgin white,

until it loses its innocence to

yellow parking stall stripes.

The streets prowl its perimeter,

buildings spy and gossip of its shame.

Such an allegory of your wasted life.

You, a shadow, a reflection

of others’ needs.

You gave them what they wanted.

What’s left of you now?

All flattened, all gone.

Be brave!

Let others see you for who you really are!

For once, make a lasting impression.

Jump.

Nolcha (@nfoxauthor) has written all her life, starting with poop and crayons on the walls. That led to a long career in technical writing. She retired into blogging and short stories (27 published). In June 2021, she turned to poetry. One was published in the July 2021 WyoPoets News. Another is pending publication in the Fall Issue of Duck Head Journal. Her major poetic influences are “The Cat in the Hat” and “Alice in Wonderland.”