WEDNESDAY: How to Calm a Cactus?

BY STEVE SIBRA

Copyright is held by the author.

Welcome to my catechism
I am a blues man
what do I know about raising the dead?

Inside an animal is the animalism
open up a can of cannibalism
it’s another side of this life

I grew up in the desert
we sucked water from the prickly pear
without it             we were dead

narrow husks grinning like skeletons
wind turning our pages
ancient voices like popcorn in our ears

***

For the past 40 years, Steve Sibra has made his living by buying and selling vintage comic books. He has published poetry and short fiction in dozens of literary journals going back to 1989. His full-length book of poetry, entitled Shoes for Baby, was published in 2002 by Swallow Press. He was born and grew up in rural Montana, the son of a farmer.