38

Petit

Iwasasilentandsullenchild, deepasawell, magma boilingatitsbase. Gettingmetotalkwaslikedrawing waterandbringingupalavabomb.

Icallherandshe rises, trailinga rainof rootsandstalactites, likethestormcloudattheendof childhood’ssummer.

Shesitswithmeatthetable, ahulkof electricair; ariver’s catch, raisedandsuspended.

Awholefarmhousehoversinthe gloom. Inherthunderhead thegentlecowsaretrapped, theirbellsringing.

SevenyearsIstayedsilent.Iwouldnottalktoherstorm-face oreclipse-hair, eventhatonenightshesoftened, andIsaw thelunararcsonherbrow.

Ilaythetable. Thewaxedclothisprintedwithsunflowers andlavender, poppiesandcorn. Thecicadas chanta grace. It issummerinourplates.

Thewineisfromourvineyard–aprehistoricvintage. The fruitisfromourtrees. Iweededthem. Iprunedthem. The donkeycarriedwatertothem.

MyplatespinsandIstarteatingCatherinewheels. Idrink thewineof newbornstars; sipcognacoldasCentaurus. Annemarie Austin

Dysphasias

1

Samuel Beckett: ‘To restore silence is the role of objects.’

So. Without speech. I reach out to the object, a round thing, round with thing. So thing. With. So without speech I. Reach out to the object, I cry inside. I cry. Inside. So without speech. Without speech thing. Round. Round without thing. Thing inside, I cry. Thing I. Round and round and round I cry. Without. So I cry. Speech thing. I reach thing. Out. With I. I reach round thing to cry. Speech inside. I.