is not fatal
ism is not
to be or
not to
be
mean at the core of matter
like a corm in relation
to a crocus
pit to peach
tree a seed
in relation to the right
conditional
lots of germ
i/nations fail
to thrive
resist
the visible
what will be
will be
aspirational
microbial a
missing gene
a quarantine
of least
resistance
incubate in
tubate bloom
ing misogyny
innocence be not synonymous with dumb virtue’s vice in drag the numbers grow too large to fathom a sum known only by its kin one million killed is ten is one plus so many nothings at their wake what was ain’t & what will be is panacea
for the painstruck
the scorch of powder
& the scare
cities of what
will be a matter
of trigger
& of choice
detour and deter
a matter of state
& all but out
of your hands baby
Irene Cooper
Irene Cooper is the author of Found, crime noir set in Colorado, Committal, poet-friendly spy-fy about family, & spare change, finalist for the Stafford/Hall Award for poetry. Writings appear in Denver Quarterly, The Feminist Wire, The Rumpus, streetcake, Witness, & elsewhere. Irene teaches in community & supports AIC-directed creative writing opportunities at a regional prison. She lives in Oregon with her people & Maggie. irenecooperwrites.com.
Cosmic Double 