From “feeld”

i

thees wite skirtes / & orang

sweters / i wont / inn the feedynge marte / 

            wile mye vegetable partes bloome /

            inn the commen waye / a grackel

            inn the guarden rooste / the tall

            wymon wasching handes /

                                    or eyeing turnups

/ the sadened powres wee rub /        so economicalie /

            inn 1 virsion off thynges /

            alarum is mye nayme

                        / unkempt & handeld

            i am hors /

            i am sadeld / i am a brokn hors
 

lvii

tonite i wuld luv to rite the mothe inn the guarden / 2 greev it / & as a mater off forme / did u kno not a monthe goes bye / a tran i kno doesnt dye / just shye off 27 / its such a plesure to b alive / inn this trembled soot / u lent / shock is a struktured responce / a whord lost inn the mouthe off keepers / & u thum at the mothe / a dozen bes / i tetherred thees nites / i gathred so manie treees

Notes:

From feeld (Milkweed Editions, 2016) and originally published in the November 2016 issue of Poetry.

“Not Too Hard to Master” is a series of poets writing on form and sharing a prompt. Read Jos Charles’s essay “that which joins and that which divides: on re-spelling” and her writing prompt.

Source: Poetry (July/August 2026)