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March 12, 2024 Poetry

Joan of Arc

Joshua Palm

Joan of Arc photo

Today I saw a goose stare down an suv and thought of you.
it got to the other side of the road and tore a few feathers out
following me from a table outside the coffee shop to my car.
I think it wants me to be brave, to throw myself out of bed.

I’ve never been very good at this kind of thing,
                                                 but I think that you are
very pretty, though I’ve never seen you. Nevermind.
The goose I saw at the park today reminds me
of the way you threw yourself at the world.

And It may be true, you live somewhere far away,
in history books and black and white movies.
And I may have to tear out a few feathers to
reach you

but if I get to where I am trying to go,
to the other side
of the road, it will all be worth it.
The risk. The new year.

 


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