Issue 6, Spring/Summer 2008

The house with a garden by Sarah Mangold

There was something in him
one looming danger
filling our homes

He went to some trouble
sophisticated boxes
please-and-thank-yous

I do not believe Alexander didn’t panic
the doorknobs
the chocolate syrup
the ginger ale

Their moment of happiness
we’re meant to live up to
a handful of hundred-dollar bills

Problems were solvable
ankles in money
everything about cashmere

You look at them
reinventing its fabric
masters of sliced melons

But even standing as we do
and not at all easy
the house came apart

Were they telling
the secret to failure

She goes on
inevitably known
a fool for men

How do we learn the great secret
push the green button
kill the royal donkey

Whatever America did say
my yellow hair alone
put a dime in my pocket

The rest was steady gazing
a soft drawl
cherries, peaches and plums