"Orphan," "The Landing," "The Food's Delicious, You're Not Welcome," "The Contrition Between US" excerpted from at the foot of the mountain by Tak Erzinger. Orphan When your mother decides to leave, do you tell the world? What if everyone thinks it’s your fault? You could pretend it didn’t happen, never talk about it and over-compensate with many things, become an awesome painter share your artwork full of hidden meaning. Maybe people will forget to ask. It will push you to develop in ways you never imagined, maybe ways she would’ve been proud of, if she’d been around. Like how you can really dance, the way she could always dance, the way you followed her steps to the beats of all the albums she bought you, holding hands, she’d swing you around and around, pulling you close and pushing you back, keeping you spinning, you’d hear, I’ll always be there for you. It’s not what she said though. She was only singing. The Landing When they tell you, you’ve had a nervous breakdown you become like an astronaut you find yourself drifting, pleading for someone to provide you with the right equipment. In the right space you can deploy like the Eagle confronting the “magnificent desolation” resolutely. To be able to sink your feet into the lunatic surface will be a revelation tip-toeing through craters formed long before you were born. If you run low on fuel at least you will have finally seen what those wounds look like up close and personal and like the dark side of the moon allow the parts unseen to be tucked back into the envelope of your universe. The discovery- every exploration takes time and patience. The Food’s Delicious, You’re Not Welcome Once adults become a certain age it’s a matter of time before they reminisce to talk of the past and say it was better Ethnic food piled high they’ll question Why, dear friend, aren’t you afraid? and lick their lips in satisfaction It requires a stranger, light-skinned without a funny surname to offer up dishes, exotic recipes on familiar ground This individual, welcomed like a pet loves the taste of cheeseburgers heats up the grill to fire up their lies The irony of being accepted the memory of a childhood chewing her up and spitting her out just a little taste garlic sautéed softens too much spice can ruin the meal adulting in measured cups does not guarantee the right flavour The common denominator loves the food but does that mean its balanced? I’ve learnt to share those dishes while I continue to get burned in places unseen and am left with scorched pans, unable to replace them. The Contrition Between Us We are like two cats circling, insecure, heated, fearful. Each one vying for his place, seeds that have scattered haphazardly breaking cracks in the cement, vulnerable and strong at the same time. It’s like we’ve forgotten what brought us to this place: the promises, like a wide and clear spring sky, its passing clouds, whispers tucked under our pillows. The scent of love lingers, over empty plates and glasses, still warm from the summer’s evening sun easing the tension, making us forget a moment about the family we will never have. TAK Erzinger is an American/Swiss poet and artist with a Colombian background. Her poetry has been featured in Bien Acompañada from Cornell University, The Muse from McMaster University, River and South Review, Wilkes University and more. Her debut chapbook entitled, “Found: Between the Trees” was published by Grey Border Books, Canada 2019. Her then, unpublished poetry manuscript “At the Foot of the Mountain” was short-listed by the Eyelands Book Awards 2019 and Willow Run Book Awards 2020. It has now been published by Floricanto Press out of California, 2021. Her first audio drama Stella’s Constellation has been produced by Alt.Stories and Fake Realities Podcasts, out of the UK. She lives in a Swiss valley with her husband and cats.
1 Comment
7/28/2021 02:18:17 pm
Muchas gracias a Somo en Escrito por presentar mi poesía y mi libro.
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