American Poetry Now: Pitt Poetry Series Anthology

Minnie Bruce Pratt

 4 Minnie bruCe pratt Minnie Bruce Prattistheauthorof fivebooksof poetry:TheSoundof One Fork;WeSayWeLoveEachOther;CrimeAgainstNature;WalkingBackUpDepot Street,chosenastheLamontPoetrySelectionbytheAcademyof American PoetsandaNewYorkTimesNotableBookof theYear;andTheDirtSheAte: SelectedandNewPoems,winnerof the00LambdaLiteraryAwardforPoetry. PratthasalsoreceivedaCreativeWritingFellowshipinPoetryfromthe NationalEndowmentfortheArts,anda00FellowshipinPoetryfrom theNewJerseyStateCouncilontheArts.Prattisamemberof theGraduate FacultyatTheUnionInstituteandUniversity,andlivesinNewJersey.  4 Minnie bruCe pratt The Blue Cup Throughbinocularsthespiralnebulawas asmudgedwhitethumbprintonthenightsky. Storiessaiditwasamarkleftbythehand of Night,thatoldshe,easilyweaving theuniverseoutof milkystringsof chaos. Beatricefoundcreationmoredifficult. Tonightwhatshehadwasgreasywater whirlinginthebottomof hersink,revolution, andonecleancup. Shesetthebluecup downonthetable,spoonedinstantcoffee,poured boilingwater,athreadof sweetenedmilk.Before shewentbacktowork,shedrankthegalaxythatspun smallandcautiousbetweenherchappedcuppedhands. Learning to Write Iamholdingsomethingtoobiginmyhand, astick,afatfinger,sixfingersinsteadof five. Myeyestrace,thenmyfist,theforcethatmoves downfromthewhitelettersontheblackboard, tomarch A a B b ontothepageinfrontof me. HowIlovethatbroaduntouchedexpanse,how itfadesintodistancewhenthelettersspreadtheirlegs andstraddleitssurface.Nowthelettersaremine, yettheystillsitabove,staringdown,elbowsakimbo, aswecopythemorning’slesson:September,. Timedividedintodays,andmylifeintoyears asIwrote.ButwhatIlovedfirstwasthefleckedblank paper,theboundtabletlikeabookwaitingtobe filled,likeabasket,abucket,agrocerybag.  4 Minnie bruCe pratt Thebookof pageswaitingtobeturned, anairplanepropeller,analbumof oldphotographs, anemptyfield,unplowedground,waitingformyhand. From “Crime Against Nature” 1 Theupraisedarm,fistclenched,readytohit, fistclenchedandcocked,readytothrowabrick, arock,aCokebottle.WhenyouseethisonTV, robbersandcops,orpeopleinsomeforeignalley, istherockinyourhand?Doyoushiftanddodge? Doyouwatchthestorytwitchinfivekindsof color whileyoueatDoritos,drinkbeer;theday’spaper sprawledatyourfeet,suppliesboughtatthe- wherenoonebotheredyou?Ormaybehedid.All dependsonwhatyoulooklike,onif youcansmile, crawl,keepyourmouthshut.Outsidethestore, I,asusual,couldnotbelievethreatmeantme,hated byfourmenmakingupthestoryof theirsatiated hotSaturdaynightandwhattheysaidatanywoman toemergebrashasagoddessfrombehindsmokyglass, howtheywon,if shewouldnotbendhereyesorlaugh, byonethrustingquestion,brokeherinhalf, abitchinheat,adevilwithteethforacunt: What’swrongwithyou,girl?Thegrin,gibe,chant. What’sthematter?(Splittheconcreteunderherfeet, sendherstraighttohell,theprisonpitfire, blasthernastyself.)Yousomekindof dyke? Sweating,damnedif I’dgivethemthelastsay, hissingintothemouthof thenearestface,Yesss,  4 Minnie bruCe pratt Thebookof pageswaitingtobeturned, anairplanepropeller,analbumof oldphotographs, anemptyfield,unplowedground,waitingformyhand. From “Crime Against Nature” 1 Theupraisedarm,fistclenched,readytohit, fistclenchedandcocked,readytothrowabrick, arock,aCokebottle.WhenyouseethisonTV, robbersandcops,orpeopleinsomeforeignalley, istherockinyourhand?Doyoushiftanddodge? Doyouwatchthestorytwitchinfivekindsof color whileyoueatDoritos,drinkbeer;theday’spaper sprawledatyourfeet,suppliesboughtatthe- wherenoonebotheredyou?Ormaybehedid.All dependsonwhatyoulooklike,onif youcansmile, crawl,keepyourmouthshut.Outsidethestore, I,asusual,couldnotbelievethreatmeantme,hated byfourmenmakingupthestoryof theirsatiated hotSaturdaynightandwhattheysaidatanywoman toemergebrashasagoddessfrombehindsmokyglass, howtheywon,if shewouldnotbendhereyesorlaugh, byonethrustingquestion,brokeherinhalf, abitchinheat,adevilwithteethforacunt: What’swrongwithyou,girl?Thegrin,gibe,chant. What’sthematter?(Splittheconcreteunderherfeet, sendherstraighttohell,theprisonpitfire, blasthernastyself.)Yousomekindof dyke? Sweating,damnedif I’dgivethemthelastsay, hissingintothemouthof thenearestface,Yesss,  4 Minnie bruCe pratt handjumpedtocardoor,metalslamof escape asheraisedhishand,greenbombof abottle, Iflinched,armovermyface,split-second waitforthecrashandshardsof glass.Hisnod instead,satisfiedhe’dfrightenedmebackdown intowhateverplaceI’dslidfrom.Laughter quakedtheothermen.Atme,ashe-dog,queer enoughtotalk?Athim,trickedbyastone-face dragwomanstealinghispunchline,astonished asif arock’dcometolifeinhishandandslashed him?Hedroppedhishand,smiledlikehe’dwon. Slammedintothecar,Idroveaway,mad,ashamed. AllnightIseethed,helpless,thescenereplayed, slow-motionfilm,untilIheardmyYes,andthedream violencecrackedwithlaughter.Iwasshakenout onthestreetwheremyvoicereareduphersnout, unlikelyasablacksnakeracingfromadrain,firespitting ,whistlinglikeasiren,oneword,Yes, andthemen,balancedbetweenterrorandsurprise, laughasthevoicerollslikeahoopsnake,tail inhermouth,obscurespinningblur,quiethowl, amouthlikeaconjuringtrick,ablackhole thatswallowstheirstoryandturnsitinsideout. Forasplitsecondweareallclenched,suspended: upraisedfist,approvinghoots,myinvertedending. From “Crime Against Nature” 6 Icouldhavebeenmentallyillorcommitted adultery,yetnotbeenjudgedunfit.Orcriminal butfeminine:prostitution,passingbadchecks.  4 Minnie bruCe pratt handjumpedtocardoor,metalslamof escape asheraisedhishand,greenbombof abottle, Iflinched,armovermyface,split-second waitforthecrashandshardsof glass.Hisnod instead,satisfiedhe’dfrightenedmebackdown intowhateverplaceI’dslidfrom.Laughter quakedtheothermen.Atme,ashe-dog,queer enoughtotalk?Athim,trickedbyastone-face dragwomanstealinghispunchline,astonished asif arock’dcometolifeinhishandandslashed him?Hedroppedhishand,smiledlikehe’dwon. Slammedintothecar,Idroveaway,mad,ashamed. AllnightIseethed,helpless,thescenereplayed, slow-motionfilm,untilIheardmyYes,andthedream violencecrackedwithlaughter.Iwasshakenout onthestreetwheremyvoicereareduphersnout, unlikelyasablacksnakeracingfromadrain,firespitting ,whistlinglikeasiren,oneword,Yes, andthemen,balancedbetweenterrorandsurprise, laughasthevoicerollslikeahoopsnake,tail inhermouth,obscurespinningblur,quiethowl, amouthlikeaconjuringtrick,ablackhole thatswallowstheirstoryandturnsitinsideout. Forasplitsecondweareallclenched,suspended: upraisedfist,approvinghoots,myinvertedending. From “Crime Against Nature” 6 Icouldhavebeenmentallyillorcommitted adultery,yetnotbeenjudgedunfit.Orcriminal butfeminine:prostitution,passingbadchecks.  4 Minnie bruCe pratt Orcriminallyunnaturalwithwomen,andescaped, butonlyif I’drepentedandpretended likeSusanS.,whobecameaconvincingfiction: Rentedatwo-bedroom,poolsideapartment,nice, onCountryClubRoad,sanginthechoiratTrinity, gotthekidsintoScouts,arrangedherjobtowalk themtoschoolinthemorning,meetthemat:00p.m., arespected,well-dressed,professionalwoman withseveraladvanceddegreesandcorrectanswers forthepsychiatristwhowoulddeclarehernormal, intheordinarysenseof theword.Noboyfriend forcover,butherimpersonationtrickedthecourt. Insixmonthsshegotthechildrenback:custody. It’saprisonterm,isn’tit?Someonebeingguarded. Ididnoneof that.Intheendmychildrenvisitme asIam.ButIdidn’twritethisstoryuntilnowwhen theyaretoooldforeitherlaworfathertoseize orpreventfromhearingmywords,orfromwatching asIadvanceinthescandalousancientwayof women: Ourassaultonenemies,walkingforward,skirtslifted, toshowthesilentmouth,theterriblepower,oursecret. Walking Back Up Depot Street InHollywood,California(she’dbeentold)womentravel onrollerskates,pullastringof children,grinning,gaudyeyedasmerry -go-roundhorses,brass-wheeled underabluecanopyof sky. Beatricehadnever livedinsuchaplace.Thismorning,forinstance,beside RoxboroRoad,she’dseenawomanwithnofeetwheel herchairintofragileclumpsof newgrass.Herlegsended attheankle,oldbrowncypressknees.Shefurrowedherself byhandthroughtheground.Carspassed.Theskystareddown. Atthecenterof theworld’sblueeye,thewomanstaredback.  4 Minnie bruCe pratt Orcriminallyunnaturalwithwomen,andescaped, butonlyif I’drepentedandpretended likeSusanS.,whobecameaconvincingfiction: Rentedatwo-bedroom,poolsideapartment,nice, onCountryClubRoad,sanginthechoiratTrinity, gotthekidsintoScouts,arrangedherjobtowalk themtoschoolinthemorning,meetthemat:00p.m., arespected,well-dressed,professionalwoman withseveraladvanceddegreesandcorrectanswers forthepsychiatristwhowoulddeclarehernormal, intheordinarysenseof theword.Noboyfriend forcover,butherimpersonationtrickedthecourt. Insixmonthsshegotthechildrenback:custody. It’saprisonterm,isn’tit?Someonebeingguarded. Ididnoneof that.Intheendmychildrenvisitme asIam.ButIdidn’twritethisstoryuntilnowwhen theyaretoooldforeitherlaworfathertoseize orpreventfromhearingmywords,orfromwatching asIadvanceinthescandalousancientwayof women: Ourassaultonenemies,walkingforward,skirtslifted, toshowthesilentmouth,theterriblepower,oursecret. Walking Back Up Depot Street InHollywood,California(she’dbeentold)womentravel onrollerskates,pullastringof children,grinning,gaudyeyedasmerry -go-roundhorses,brass-wheeled underabluecanopyof sky. Beatricehadnever livedinsuchaplace.Thismorning,forinstance,beside RoxboroRoad,she’dseenawomanwithnofeetwheel herchairintofragileclumpsof newgrass.Herlegsended attheankle,oldbrowncypressknees.Shefurrowedherself byhandthroughtheground.Carspassed.Theskystareddown. Atthecenterof theworld’sblueeye,thewomanstaredback.  4 Minnie bruCe pratt Yearsrevolved,begantocircleBeatricelikearingof burningeyes. Theyflaredandsmokedlikethesawmillfiresshewalkedpast asachild,intheafternoonato’clock,sheandadarkwoman, pastthecottongin,ontothebridgeabovetherailroadtracks. Theretheywaitedforwheelstorushlikethewingsof anironangel, forthewhitemanattheenginetoblowthewhistle.Beatricehadwaited tostandinthetrembleof power. Thirtyyearslatershesaw thescar,thewomanwhohadwalkedbesideherthen,split, butdeterminedtolive,raisingmustardgreenstogetthrough thewinter.Whethershehad,thisspring,Beatricedidnotknow. If shewassitting,knottedfeettothestove,if thecoalhadlasted, if shecaredforhercompany,picturesundertableglass, theeyesof childrenshehadraisedforothers. If Beatricewentback tovisitatherhouse,satunsteadyinachairinthesmokyroom, they’dbedividedbypastbelief,thetown’sparalleltracks, peoplenevertomeetevenindistance.Theywouldbejoined bythememoryof walkingbackupDepotStreet. Shecouldsit...