Poems: Final Draft and Torn Cocoon

By Alison McBain

FINAL DRAFT

 

 

the dustjacket ripped

when he borrowed

my first edition

I am sorry he says

this was not the way

for endings

 

I wanted

I did, I wanted

you're not alone in wanting

I can't unfold the corners

cross out checkmarks

whitify highlights

 

Gorilla glue, I’ve tried

to tack the broken spine

like lemon and cream

curdles of separation

us

I'm talking about us

 

you're fourth behind her

now there's you

me, I'm in line somewhere—

perhaps last

always last

in acknowledgements

 

we watch words

bounce off the ceiling

rebound in raindrops

base narrative

background scratches

on the record

 

don't hate me, I hope

I hope you don't

hate me

when it's done

us

I'm talking about us

 

 

TORN COCOON

 

 

I see her

tawny eyes

lost in dreams,

 

unblemished

from life’s stains.

I wonder

 

when did my

eyes waste their

       radiance?