“notice a bewildered stranger” we
are underling predicates, it is
a close call. no one is dreaming
of dreaming, I was, & there I
am, pretty as homer, sitting or singing
in the rainy shower, my paramour

October 1981
new canaan, ct

Previously published in American Speech.

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Ricky Garni is a graphic designer living in Carrboro, North Carolina. His work can be found in Evergreen Review, Camel Saloon, Orion Headless, Cha and other periodicals. His latest work, 2% Butterscotch, was released in 2012. His first work, Peppermint, in 1995. “The wax & wane of ear nightmare” was Ricky’s first published poem (outside of college). His “Teen Beat, to Billy” and “Wednesday” are also in Reprint.

Object(s) to bring back to life: “I would like to bring my grandfather’s club chair back to life. I would like my grandfather to be in it. I wonder if he actually ever sat in that club chair; the only one who would know would be my father. I would like to bring him back to life, too, and ask him: Did your father sit in the club chair like mine did?”