Viola Pantoum

/ Issue 11.1 /

The cop asked me one poignant question on the bridge of our bad marriage—did I
miss playing viola?…..The morning

lay un-composed, at the bridge of our bad marriage. I don’t remember
answering.

The morning lay un-composed, while the cop stalked a woodland killer.

……………I don’t remember answering, the willow’s legato
leaves unfurled.

While the cop stalked a woodland killer, he seemed to forget we’d
married the willow’s legato leaves, unfurled.

While the cop emptied his chamber—he seemed to forget we’d married:

…..my super power is evanescence.

……….While the cop emptied his chamber, I slept in his uniform shirt.

My super power is evanescence —
he never knew

……….I did this. I slept
……….in his uniform shirt…..& dreamt each tree—a coffin.

He never knew I did this. Does boxwood miss
the tree it’s made from? I dreamt.

……….Each tree—a coffin. Did

I miss playing viola—

……………does boxwood miss the tree

……….it’s made from?

……………The cop asked me

……….one poignant question.

Jane Springer

Jane Springer

Jane Springer is the author of Dear Blackbird, Murder Ballad, and Moth. Her work’s been featured in The Best American Poetry and Pushcart anthologies, and she’s received fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts, the MacDowell Artist’s Colony, and the Whiting Foundation. She teaches literature and creative writing at Hamilton College, in upstate New York. (Photo credit: Robin Caudell)
Jane Springer

Latest posts by Jane Springer (see all)

Author: Jane Springer

Jane Springer is the author of Dear Blackbird, Murder Ballad, and Moth. Her work’s been featured in The Best American Poetry and Pushcart anthologies, and she’s received fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts, the MacDowell Artist’s Colony, and the Whiting Foundation. She teaches literature and creative writing at Hamilton College, in upstate New York. (Photo credit: Robin Caudell)