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North 5

Published 1989

Guest edited by Keith Jafrate

Poems by:

  • Jean Smith
  • Milner Place
  • Anna Fissler
  • Martin Murphy
  • Duncan Bush
  • Sharon Olds
  • Philip Hesse
  • Steve Wey
  • and others.

Review of Sharon Olds (by Keith Jafrate)

 

CAVALIER

He spent hours
on his back,
lubricating, coaxing.
Knew he'd made it
when she purred.
Showed her off
in town.
Heads turned.

Gathering speed
in suburbs,
gritting teeth,
he thrilled to her squeal
on sharp corners.
All Sunday
he drove

till he reached
the hill.
She whined!
He'd sweated for weeks.
Shifts. Overtime.
At the lights
she whimpered.
Putting his foot down
he wrote her off.

Smashed her.

There'd be others.

- Jeanette Hattersley

 

 

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