God at the Fruit Stand

God at the Fruit Stand
by Brandy H.

Every time I spend a dollar I cross
off your name. It offends me to see it, like faith
is something we can trade for California oranges
on a hot highway shoulder.

When I was nine, Sister Sandra cut
an apple in half and said that your story was there
in a circle of seeds. I almost believed her—except

fragile flesh, rigid core, small round infants deep inside,
and a skin speckled brown with the sun.
An apple is the fruit of a mother.

You can burn a bush or part a sea, but you can never know
how it feels to grow someone inside, to feel him curled
asleep in your middle, pressing your hand from inside, to weep
and curse and part like the sea to bear him.

How can I trust you with eternity when you've never
felt agony in creation, never risked
your existence for the sake of birth.

How can I do anything but cross you off
every time I spend a dollar
and buy a roadside orange?

I really like that.

Thanks.

"to weep/and curse and part like the sea to bear him."

:hug:

I'm CCing to my daughter.

Thanks!

:hug:

And thank *you* for letting me know that you liked it.

:hug:

I loved it!

Khash.

Consider publishing that one. Seriously.

Wow.

:hug:

Thank you so much again for yesterday. I'm relaxing and healing at home today--hopefully I'll be all better as soon as the antibiotics have had a chance to really kick in.

Hope you're getting lots of much-needed rest. :hug:

Deb's out and about putting in job apps. I'm sitting here with my head throbbing, counting down the minutes until I can take another pain pill. Ouch. :(

This is really good!

Thank you for sharing it...

:hi:

RL

Your opinion is priceless to me.

:hug:

I'm waiting until after I get back from Sarah Lawrence, then I'm gonna paper the hell out of the little mags...

:hi:

RL

I submitted three poems that I thought were "ready". This particular publication doesn't accept simultaneous subs, so I'm working on other poems while waiting to hear back from them, and trying to get a good portfolio of workable stuff ready so that I don't get buried this fall in the 313 workshop. I've heard that the professor is very demanding.

I'm still SQUEE! over you going to Sarah Lawrence. That is Seriously Awesome. Is it a workshop? Are you taking some older poems, or working on entirely new material? :hug:

I sent 5 in for my application, and then they asked for 5 more for the workshop week.

12 people and the prof workshopping all week, readings too, and writing time, plus one-on-ones with the prof.

I'm also all SQUEEE! about it. :D

RL

. . . and when I thought about it, I realized "oktoberain" wouldn't fit. So clearly, you were simply on my mind, for whatever reason.

Now this. I'm pretty amazed by the coincidence, and no less amazed by your poem. Thank you for posting it.

Maybe as "OKTBRN". However, I am concerned that people will read it and think, "Octo-brain!". :rofl:

:hug:

who works with tuberculosis patients.



:crazy: