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Superstitious Manna
- University of Illinois Press
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25 SuperstitiousManna Facedown,agoodluckpennybecomesthebad noonewilltouch.Onthecakewalksidewalk, copperbeaconofpromisegonewrong, itsglintbegs“Pickmeup,”ahintofmischief inthewaylightpuddlesagainstitsthinbrim, nearlyspillingbutnot.Folkssidesteparound, astheywouldanyblackcatbreakingamirror onFridaythe13th.Foryouitwinks“I’myours,” sosweetlyyouhearcoinsclinkinthepiggybank whosenoseyouballpeenedofftobuy anEasterkiteAprilmaplesgotthebestof. NowLossandRedemption,andnottheEasterstory’s, butyourownkid’skitecaughtandjustsetfree atMain&UniversityonaMondaynoon halfwaythroughyourfifthdecade—thecircle ofchancecomehomeatlast.Well,perhaps. Sappho,whoknewathingortwoofbreakage, warneddon’tdisturbtherubble.Whenyoucrank yourbadbacktowardit,aworld’sweightrests onyou,Atlasofthemiddle-aged.Whatgift haveyouthesensetorefuse?Whatkiss oncheekorlips?There’sshimmeringLincoln enthronedinthepenny’spint-sizedmemorial, deadforhiscause.“Touchme,”hecoos, thoughwhowoulddarebutyou,thechild whosemothersmackedyourhand,“Dirty,dirty.” ...