By Amy Simone Piller
When researching oneselfthere is no directory of eventsfrom which to systematically select;there is no randomsurvey of lifethings riselike creamreasons unseenwho was in the roomthe time of day, the ray of lightthe unisolatable way we’re hurtis rarely convenient
We are not malls of personalitiessequestered on a clipboardconveniently differentiatedby colors of teeswe are onewardrobeto changeis a challengelet alone [...]
By Amy Simone Piller
“They’re all here,†she would saywhen another odd thing took place.
Emphasis on the “aw†in “allâ€as if her mouth could enclosethe oddity.
But it couldn’tthere was still the manplaying flute on the subway stairsand the looming third railDorothy who lived downstairsher mop, vaguely her hairshe died and no one knew for three daysthe doorman [...]
By Amy Simone Piller
We are tired quiet in the cartalked outcompulsive concerns airedlooming third rail.
In the valley mountains rise siblings unknown
They corral wild horses here,for adoption I don’t supposeI could take one home.
We speed to seethe sun set the lakewater never escapesterminal end of Tahoe’s tearsevaporating.
“Tufahs†rise towers calcium carbonate underground springs bubbling upminerals deposited out.
As the [...]
By Amy Simone Piller
Things are so ordinaryand terribly important.
Today a kid called methe best teacher everand the dean called me Judas.
Someone rolled their eyes,I ate kim-chi,my cleavage burnt and itched beneath my blouseleftover sunrays dancing.
The gym teacher criedher cousin dieda drunk driverand there it goes—days of anecdotesuntold.
My heart’s mad,can’t take the layers of levityadding up to weight.
Heavylike [...]
By Amy Simone Piller
Your cup is almost emptyand your brain is fullwith your heart beat, hard beating.
By Amy Simone Piller
How little I know still of you,the thoughts you had,little boy,lost like megrowing up someplace between imagination andnow.
The tissue of timepre-systemizingus for todayyou in morningby my side.
They say the beginning was beautifulmoments afterthe big bang.Simpler, less atomic mess.
It must have been like breathingwhen we first wake upcomprehending all there isin front [...]
By Amy Simone Piller
I want to not writethis strange wishfor later.
I want tonot whist after lyricsunsung
I wish to be these wordslying on a pagenot this bodystrung out on conceptual drugs.
I want to come home,become the showerand all ideals of passionate love.
By Amy Simone Piller
If one loses hope, tell me what one gains:false tranquility in early waking light?There can be no true protection from pain.
Have you ever dreamt that you held the reignspumping your heart gently, morning to night,but if you give up, there is nothing to gain.
Perhaps when quiet moments are such a strainhopelessness alleviates failure, quitetruly, is [...]
By Amy Simone Piller
Mariachis stood stillas I slept in my mindthe subway was crowdedas we crowds blew by
Over the bridgewe go one more timenearer to workback into line.
The sun is risingI can almost see,if it weren’t for that window framebetween you and me.
I close my eyes andthe water risesmy motion picture surmountsI feel everything shakingmaybe we’re all going [...]
By Amy Simone Piller
At best, grading is likegetting a compliment you asked for.
Mostly it is like asking for a complimentand getting stabbed repeatedly by forks, or like editing your own poemswith no penthe mistakes are permanenttomato sauce on a new dress,only space for reprimand.
I searchfor the lineto make my reflectionwhat I wish,I want to see [...]