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

  • Transformations
  • Neal Bowers (bio)

A Gelding for His Horse

—On the recovery of Richard III’s bones

We lost our claim to him when he was found,our Richard, who by nature and by choicewas the most repugnant villain he could be,so perfect in his imperfections weadmired and maybe even envied himthe full embrace of his perverse identity.

So we must give him up, our wicked king,because his zealous finders have deviseda way to fit his hacked and fractured skullwith ruddy cheeks and Mona Lisa smile,and argued for his wise benevolence,altering his blackest deeds (if not his spine),and in their generosity consignedhim to the mediocrity of good.

Tea for One

The wicker loveseat creaked a littleas she leaned to watch the sugar settlein her crystal pitcher of iced teaand thought of basic chemistryand how she wanted a solutionthat would sweeten every sipbut somehow always failedwith heat or agitation [End Page 18] or putting in the ice too soonor overlooked some otherinteraction so simple no onethought to mention itto spare her this suspensionon an amber afternoon.

Penitent

The dogs that chased me hereand woke you with their bayingbelong to a neighbor down the street,as do these roses I picked for you—a sad bouquet, now that I see themin the light from your front doorwith the last of summer’s mothssputtering like firework duds,one landing in your hair untilyou shake it loose with a toss of your headand leave me on the stoopto gnaw the thorns awayin praise of your sweet hands.

Widow’s Epitaph

Consider this as you pass by:for hominy you must have lye;to fix your husband, lye again,and a hole to put him in. [End Page 19]

Neal Bowers

Neal Bowers, a long-time contributor to the Review, is writing poetry again after a decade of silence. He lives in Ames, Iowa.

...

pdf

Share