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This writing was accepted for publication in the 84 page perfect-bound issue... cc&d magazine (v207) (the April 2010 Issue) This is also available from our printer as a a $7.47 paperback book (5.5" x 8.5") perfect-bound w/ b&w pages

Order this writing in the book (bound) cc&d poetry edition		order the 5.5" x 8.5" ISSN# book order the 8.5" x 11" ISBN# book

guilty among my roses

Derek Richards

jillian spends wednesdays
in her rose garden
plotting
one week it’s poison
the next it’s a gun
sometimes he’s even worth a prayer
just take him god
beat him
then send him to hell
jillian fixes roses in a heart-shaped vase
it’s thursday morning
the sticky dreams smeared on her lips
taste of coffee brandy
sweat and spoiled cigars
the static of his voice
a slur of razor
bruises beg for silence

jillian calls their daughter long-distance
it’s friday evening
the pork-chops are perfect, the whiskey chilled
she describes the insults as serenity
the knuckles as embraces
voiced sincerity thickened with practice
your father is a monster
stay in arizona
i’ll call you when it’s time
jillian digs through layers of mirror
it’s saturday afternoon
applies a carpet of blush over cheekbone
mascara softens the despair
the hairbrush is simply to calm the nerves
works well with xanax maybe this wednesday
mercy will find me
guilty among my roses


(originally published by Soundzine)/I>

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