by Alan Bern
Body Box #7
If a long slow breath
then a life stills in the middle of its song
the way anesthesia enters the body
a long-held silence with maps in its pockets
if damaged and beats each second, a heart
wearies, fails. Not in the usual way of being left,
by the ones who die, the ones who
leave your blue sweater, books on the porch
without warning.
Ellen Devlin is the author of chapbooks Rita and Heavenly Bodies at the MET. Her recent journal publications include Beyond Words, Muleskinner Journal, Rock Poet Poem, and Westchester Review. She lives in Irvington, New York with her husband Charles.
Retired children’s librarian Alan Bern has published three books of poetry and has a hybrid fictionalized memoir, IN THE PACE OF THE PATH, forthcoming in November 2023 from UnCollected Press. Recent awards include: Winner, Saw Palm Poetry Contest (2022); Honorable Mention, Littoral Press Poetry Prize (2021). Recent and upcoming writing and photo work include: CERASUS, Thanatos, The Hyacinth Review, DarkWinter, and Mercurius. Alan is a published/exhibited photographer, and he performs with dancer/choreographer Lucinda Weaver as PACES: dance & poetry fit the space and with musicians from Composing Together. Lines & Faces, his press with artist/printer Robert Woods: linesandfaces.com. https://www.instagram.com/abobern/ https://twitter.com/AlanBern1/ https://www.facebook.com/alan.bern.1