Jan Wiezorek: Mutilations from Salt
Salt Marsh
When we desire east,
but eclipse direction,
we become as spirits
invading a saltbox;
flung toward
pale windows of home.
Our floors set upon lengths
of silica and whitewash.
We’ve landed on a marsh,
inventing grasses,
standing wobbling,
holding poems
like crystals painted
on my palms.
One hand brushes
the other, as salt (a poultice
of words that season
thoughts) vanishes.
Someone judges,
but our clouds of burden
mean nothing other
than other. We lick
their salty tears,
breathe brine,
and forget the nouns.
Time was when
we could lean
on each other,
and cough up
mutilations from salt.
Jan Wiezorek has taught writing at St. Augustine College, Chicago, and his poetry has appeared or is forthcoming at The London Magazine, Southern Pacific Review, Better Than Starbucks, Scarlet Leaf Review, Bindweed Magazine, Straylight Literary Magazine, Literary Juice, Elsewhere, FIVE:2:ONE, Random Sample, Squawk Back, Tuck Magazine, Panoplyzine, andSchuylkill Valley Journal. He is author of Awesome Art Projects That Spark Super Writing (Scholastic, 2011) and holds a master's degree in English Composition/Writing from Northeastern Illinois University, Chicago. Visit him at janwiezorek.weebly.com
