Up
by Michael Dylan Welch and Tanya McDonald First published in our book, Seven Suns / Seven Moons (Seattle, Washington: NeoPoiesis Press, 2016), pages 46–53. Originally written 7 April 2009, at SoulFood Books in Redmond, Washington. See also our two rengay from the book, “High Score” and “Torpedo,” and the book’s afterword. first warm day seven suns are not enough Michael seven moons peer over the eaves Tanya seven suns the new immigrant conjugates a verb Michael wrapped in a frayed quilt all seven moons Tanya the fifth of the seven suns eclipsed Michael seven moons short a piece of silver Tanya the treasure hidden inside an egg seven suns Tanya playing golf on the seventh moon Michael do you like butter? she holds seven suns to his chin Tanya seven moons he pours her wine Michael seven suns the digits of this phone number Tanya once upon a time seven moons Michael lost in the weave of a plaid slipper seven suns Tanya at the juvie center seven moons Michael the baby shakes the seven suns to pieces Tanya sevenmoonlight on the surgery scar Michael seven suns the black hen eats another blossom Tanya my head shrunken by the seven moons Michael seven suns our tickets booked to Mazatlan Michael the sandcastle holds seven honeymoons Tanya arctic wind seven suns for seven brothers Michael after the earthquake seven silent moons Tanya the butcher knife stuck in the cheese rind seven suns Michael seven moons what’s in a name? Tanya a sun is a sun is a sun is a sun is a sun is a sun is a sun Michael thistle seeds scattering the seven moons Tanya sevensunburned the stranded pod of pilot whales Michael circulating the petition seven moons Tanya seven suns the time it takes to say I’m jobless Michael carousel horse nodding to the tune of seven moons Tanya empty stadium a hummingbird feeds on seven sunsets Tanya seven moons since we met Michael grinding the last seven suns of coffee for the unexpected guest Tanya added to my star chart seven moons Michael seven suns strung among the leis around his neck Tanya up up and away to the seven moons Michael |