Spiders
a kasen renku by Michael Dylan Welch and Elizabeth St Jacques
Written 14 January 1992 to 27 July 1993 by postal exchange. First published in Lynx XI:1, February 1996, pages 36–37.
old folks’ home—
a dried spider
falls from the stucco Michael
a rubber ball bounces
deep into his dream Elizabeth
country road—
the shape of the dandelion
before I blow Michael
slowly through tall grass
a slithering of darker green Elizabeth
trespassing—
the look of surprise
when he steps on the rake Michael
a sheepish grin
for the extra birthday candle Elizabeth
~ ~ ~
murmuring a wish
with the falling star
. . . the bag lady Elizabeth
home late, he hesitates
at the creaky stair Michael
last night’s horror
wakes me with a scream . . .
little Dracula Elizabeth
tossing and turning
the darker brown of new soil Michael
moist and warm
in my palm
my newborn’s pale caul Elizabeth
sparrows fly off . . .
hailstones bobbing in the birdbath Michael
the Frisbee’s circle
still so dry
after early snow Elizabeth
sign on the bait-and tackle shop door:
gone ice fishing Michael
lost in the storm . . .
the lack of warmth
in his embrace Elizabeth
after lovemaking
she corrects his grammar Michael
in crimson letters
the newspaper headline:
ETHNIC CLEANSING Elizabeth
first day of school—
the mulatto first-grader Michael
~ ~ ~
open window—
the breeze billows in
with a yellow leaf Michael
sprigs of mint
surround the turkey’s breast Elizabeth
tourists in sun hats—
the jellyfish
under the pier Michael
sunset . . . the beggar
counting silver coins Elizabeth
gathering clouds—
a lost child
joins the parade Michael
marching on Remembrance Day
for her three dead sons Elizabeth
the wardrobe open
on Christmas Eve—
the shine still on his boots Michael
discarded tree . . .
the bluejay finds some tinsel Elizabeth
a sudden flash
in still water—
a salmon’s silver tail Michael
coming up for air
the pink balloon Elizabeth
summer breeze—
the puddle-frog leaps
from the preschooler’s hand Michael
smack in the center of the bull’s-eye
his spitball Elizabeth
~ ~ ~
able yet
to pop a grape into his mouth
. . . the old man smiles Elizabeth
above the rapids,
the paper boat Michael
the light bounce
of the willow limb
. . . evening squirrel Elizabeth
a downy feather drifts
into the dog dish Michael
something small
in the evening pond . . .
the tremble of the moon Elizabeth
floating away
the fallen cocoon Michael