In lieu of an abstract, here is a brief excerpt of the content:

23 Jack of Spades You thought I was a man. They painted that mustache on my lip, curled my fingers around a spear stuck in the ground. But wait a minute. Look at that black heart upside down, graceful edges curving to a point. I began as the Queen of Hearts, but it didn’t feel right, all those knights sidling up, bringing gardenias, suggesting we go down for tea at the folly by the lake. I didn’t need a folly. I wanted oars, salt creeping through the cracks, an island pulling up its roots, floating northeast, deep water where the sun came up. King of Diamonds gesturing with his crooked finger? No thanks. 24 I’d rather watch the six of clubs whack the shell of a tortoise and grill the skimpy flesh over a twig fire behind his hut. That sixer has rolling balls, unlike some royalty I could name. Scarlet to burned-out rose to black, Queen morphed to a Jack of my own making, smooth, hoisted on a prick I drew myself. ...

Share