SPLIT THIS ROCK: Poems of Provocation & Witness
Grace Cavalieri
ALONE AGAIN
Anna Nicole was told that on any pleasing morning
she could be let out.
The staff would be forever with her. Even though gone,
they would be in memory.
This made her feel like a bird without a nest,
the wind moving through...
her bones made of light…
A party was being arranged at this very moment.
Homecoming.
Luis was sent to rent TOYS R US for the party
The main store. She’d love it.
All those little stoves and plastic vegetables,
first she could play house, then cuddle up with Big Bird.
Rescinda and Luis knew her tastes.
There was a gift, super size jeans called Low Riders, and a witty note
This means the pants, not the men. Ha. Ha.
The high point would be confetti and balloons
floating down, Max’s idea,
each printed with a message against drugs
little clever sayings: No more drugs! No more!
Thank you thank you, now we don’t have to spank you.
Why did she regard it as a letter from the dead?
You can’t ever trust her, the bitch,
they went to all this trouble,
then her vomiting all over the Barbie lounge made full size just for her.
Grace Cavalieri is the author of several books, and 21 produced plays. She’s produced "The Poet and the Poem" from the Library of Congress on public radio, now in its 31st year. Among honors, Grace holds the Allen Ginsberg Award for Poetry, A Paterson Prize for Poetry, the Pen- Syndicated Fiction Award, the Bordighera Poetry Award, the Folger’s inaugural "Columbia Award." and CPB’s Silver Medal. Her book What I Would do For Love (Poems in the Voice of Mary Wollstonecraft, 1759-1797) is the basis for her new play, "Hyena in Petticoats." Among production awards, her play "Quilting the Sun" received a key to the city of Greenville, S.C. in 2007.
Published in Volume 9, Number 1, Winter 2008.
Read more by this author:
Grace Cavalieri
Grace Cavalieri's Intro to Vol. 5, No. 2 (Spring 2004)
Cavalieri on Roland Flint: Memorial Issue
Grace Cavalieri: Whitman Issue
Grace Cavalieri: Wartime Issue
Cavalieri on Louise Gluck: Profiles Issue
Grace Cavalieri: Evolving City Issue
Cavalieri on Ann Darr: Forebears Issue
Cavalieri on Joseph Brodsky: US Poets Laureate Issue
Grace Cavalieri: Tenth Anniversary Issue
Grace Cavalieri on "The Poet & The Poem": Literary Organizations Issue
Grace Cavalieri: Poets in Federal Government Issue