Everand Logo

Welcome to Everand!

  • The American Poetry Review

    TWO POEMS

    Sep 01, 2021 2 minutes
    PATRICK ROSAL

    When Prince Was Filipino

    It was 1983 I was 14 years old the nightCharmaine Makaiyak led me in secretto the basement kitchen of St. Matt’s cafeteriaShe put her lips on my left earlobeand soft-sang two choruses of Prince’s “Do Me”so I might finally learn how to slow dance rightWas it winter?—because the prettiest sophomoreat the Annualtook my hand and an icy waveclimbed up my banks a blizzard windshook both my alleys and all my leavesfell off my trees

    You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.

    More from The American Poetry Review

    The American Poetry Review2 min read
    Two Poems
    I would have loved a canapé—pinkyup—should he have offered it to me—is an example of the Austenian subjunctive— which I have much rehearsed—its coycurtsy—to feign that I abide failuremore graceful than I’ve done— so when he plumbed my tonguewith two
    The American Poetry Review4 min read
    Smother
    ≈ The smoke never appears in family pictures. The smoke got up this morning and ran a marathon. She came in first inher age group without trying. The smoke’s children are fine, just where they should be on the growthchart. She lets their father cut t
    The American Poetry Review2 min read
    Two Poems
    Easy has felt easier. As I runpast this relic railroad terminal,my heart chugga-chuggas,months after a mystery infectionlanded me in Lancaster General,where I learned the meaningof “pulmonary and pericardialeffusions.” These are ruinsof the heart tha

    Related