Flair for the Ancient
A Poem & Reading
It is April 2023, National Poetry Month. I am recording myself reading one of my published/curated pieces of poetry each day for 30 days.
Reading # 26 of 30
This poem is titled Flair for the Ancient. Sometimes you have to step back and marvel at all that exists. This poem is available for the first time here on Medium. I hope it connects with you.
Flair for the Ancient
Do you write?
Do you scream?
Do you tempt in magic marker,
unerasable offerings
to the straight and unprotected?
Do you cut the wrists of a cat,
nip the tail of a musk ox,
leave mosquitos to their own devices?
This habit is immortality —
a way to cover the land
with ice, then rain,
then shallow ocean
filled with strange ends.
Shellfish tempt in radical promises.
Oasis islands exist to block the sun.
How much water can you hold
in the gold bowl of your woven hands?
How much life are you allowed to keep?
©️ Trapper Markelz 2023
If you enjoyed this poem, please check out my chapbook Childproof Sky, a Cherrydress Chapbooks 2023 selection.
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