The Weight of Air

[days like this: farsight wrapped by gauze that laves] birds' [wrapped to a smooth] shield murmuration, lettertight fold. [cloud, the violent of a still] predator spun circular. cacophony. [sky, menacing the rushed world.] visitors mutter I just love Santa Fe Style & pluck appropriation off hangers for their closets. [i'm not exempt from clutching another's garments. horizonline marks sight] a homeless man stands at median strips, dog coatswaddled at his side, spotted limbs bedtucked for warmth. [postmonsoon silt rush, orbed clay's ruffled edges where ground clings to ground, crumbling beneath touch] yes, Canyon Road buzzes this time of year. every city is born at the signature of attraction lists. Tourist season. erasers rather than rolled socks for sweeping blackboards. [claycrumble back to earth, rootsoil shaken loose] tell me what you know of environ. [at the end of any interview, ask, Is there anything I should have asked? Or, anything you would like to say?] here is a glass for the hour. a bit of music: fa la & do re. [the answer: nearly always another discussion, laughter & sympathy, commiserate molarclick] do re fa la. [we'll compare living flora] oil tankers pass SIGHTS AND ATTRACTIONS signs. [it's true this is a skimline of existence] an arrow points down an exit ramp. White Sands Missile Range. PistachioLand. [i used to wish for myceliumlanguage, tomatolanguage phermonomespeak. admit dialogue equals a representation of reality] elephantgray, a cement brontosaurus family tips heads over a roof along Dinosaur Trail. [a partial transmission. in which letters arrow. you will be surprised by what liveslieslays. downtown, a spoon skips through cappachino milkfoam, spherical air] all & us all. [inside a coffeeshop older than my memory] engines off in parking lots. [a patron unfolds newsprint; face a shield, sorrow, grin] the optometrist remains open until five. the vet, until four. [mouths are covered for many reasons. hope pocketed with lifelint] flying saucer mcdonalds eats starlight all night. fa la & do re. every town must be known for something. [an archer declares each skull contains a dominant eye; the other looks forever sideways.] what is seen. [gravitytwisted.] birds go about their days.

Tovah Strong

Tovah Strong grew up--and currently lives--in New Mexico. They hold an MFA from Randolph College and a BFA in creative writing from the Institute of American Indian Arts. A recipient of the Glascock Prize, her poetry is forthcoming in the Rocky Mountains Literary Field Guide and has previously appeared in Terrain.org, The Passionfruit Review, EcoTheo Review, and elsewhere.