mallino_sp06

Mouth

The body opening through which an animal takes in food.

He hovers above my face, knee-bent;
I imagine the son of God: maple locks
brush cheek-bones as his eyes position
my chin downward like a miracle. His hands
nailed firmly to the head-board. I never believed
in prayer or faithful offerings, but today
I open wide and take in the body of Christ.

A tendency to talk excessively or unwisely.

And when I am full with you, don’t dare
call me by any other name
than the one with which I
was born – Leah’s sister, Jacob’s
fruitful womb: Rachel.

~

confessional

adj.
Of, relating to, or resembling confession.

In academia, they say it’s out
like big hair and bumper stickers -
no room for words that prick
like thorns deep in the thicket.

n.
A small enclosed stall in which a priest hears confessions.

Father, when I was ten I heard my mother moan
the names of fifteen men two feet from my ear-drum –
I wrote a poem about it
but apparently, no one wants to read it.
Today, I tore the last ten pages out of the Bible,
folded them neatly into squares and mailed them off
to every publisher who rejected me.

If they hear the blare of trumpets too early,
is it my fault?

Spring 2006		home : submissions : news Mannequin Envy a journal of visual and literary arts
		rachel mallino Spring 2006 mouth + confessional Bio: Rachel Mallino is a young writer living in South Florida. She has a penchant for seedy bars and playing pool, poorly. When Rachel isn't writing poetry, she takes on the role of editor for a small online literary journal called Tilt. fadingfast000@yahoo.com
		Mouth The body opening through which an animal takes in food. He hovers above my face, knee-bent; I imagine the son of God: maple locks brush cheek-bones as his eyes position my chin downward like a miracle. His hands nailed firmly to the head-board. I never believed in prayer or faithful offerings, but today I open wide and take in the body of Christ. A tendency to talk excessively or unwisely. And when I am full with you, don’t dare call me by any other name than the one with which I was born – Leah’s sister, Jacob’s fruitful womb: Rachel. ~ confessional adj. Of, relating to, or resembling confession. In academia, they say it’s out like big hair and bumper stickers - no room for words that prick like thorns deep in the thicket. n. A small enclosed stall in which a priest hears confessions. Father, when I was ten I heard my mother moan the names of fifteen men two feet from my ear-drum – I wrote a poem about it but apparently, no one wants to read it. Today, I tore the last ten pages out of the Bible, folded them neatly into squares and mailed them off to every publisher who rejected me. If they hear the blare of trumpets too early, is it my fault?