E·ratio

Issue 21

 

 

 

the cotton of her blouse

 

Jennifer MacBain-Stephens

 

 

 

 

waivers

against staff paper        torso paper dart shadow

perfect rectangular bench

drifted      night      mosquito   circumference  hum

weighted   crab grass breaths

sweetest  notes             exit porch door

E major        G minor      C major  chords

lowest gravitas utilizes B flat

letters plunk             disappear into dusty corners

Repeat     

             repeat

crescendo

A staccato                            that little death

Mezzo piano     unfolds    pulls  a  melancholy tide

it is here

no, here

an instrument    knocks,   hammers fall,    strum

under  ghost light

ivory  old time heat

succumbs to the pedal

 

a fox hides in blackberries

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jennifer MacBain-Stephens went to NYU but currently lives in the DC area with her family.  She is the author of three chapbooks:  Every Her Dies (ELJ Publications), Clotheshorse (Finishing Line Press, 2014) and Backyard Poems (Dancing Girl Press, 2015).  Recent work can be seen or is forthcoming at Toad Suck Review, The Poetry Storehouse, Pretty Owl Poetry, Yes, Poetry, Gargoyle Magazine, Jet Fuel Review, Glittermob, The Norfolk Review, Moss Trill and Hobart.  MacBain-Stephens is online at JenniferMacBainStephens.wordpress.com.

 

 


                                               <  e·  >