by Martina Reisz Newberry
Adam’s torso, it is said, was made from earth
taken from Babylonia. That may be,
but it’s all-fall-down time there now; it’s watch-out-
the-sky’s-on-fire time. The burquas are burning,
Ogals and gutrahs are birds escaping flames,
escaping smoke and gunfire. Kaffiyeh fly
as well, but not far. Ezekiel’s fire would
be a tender release compared to this
vestibule of pain. I watch humankind’s coil
unravel. War turns us to confetti,
rain on a dismal parade. The proud Duranni Empire is ash
and shadow. Our restoration promises
reek of braised flesh and singed hair.
The Quran spells out equality. I think it means that all
sweet souls, gender aside, may die the same deaths.
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ABOUT THE POET ~
Martina Reisz Newberry’s most recent book is WHAT WE CAN’T FORGIVE. She is also the author of LATE NIGHT RADIO, PERHAPS YOU COULD BREATHE FOR ME. HUNGER, AFTER THE EARTHQUAKE: POEMS 1996-2006, NOT UNTRUE & NOT UNKIND (Arabesques Press) and RUNNING LIKE A WOMAN WITH HER HAIR ON FIRE: Collected Poems (Red Hen Press)., Ms. Newberry is the winner of i.e. magazine’s Editor’s Choice Poetry Chapbook Prize for 1998: AN APPARENT, APPROACHABLE LIGHT., She is the author of LIMA BEANS AND CITY CHICKEN: MEMORIES OF THE OPEN HEARTH—a memoir of her father—published by E.P. Dutton and Co. in 1989., She has written four novels and several books of poetry, has been included in Ascent Aspirations first Anthology and has been widely published in literary magazines and books such as: Amelia, Ascent Aspirations, Bellingham Review, Southern Review of Poetry, and others., Newberry lives in Palm Springs, California with her husband Brian and their benevolent dictator/cat, Gato. All her books are available from amazon.com.
Last updated August 05, 2011