AfterLit Homehttp://www.afterliterature.org/home/Wed, 28 Dec 2011 04:50:49 +0000en-CASquarespace Site Server v5.11.81 (http://www.squarespace.com/)Editorial Board Selection ~ December 28, 2011AfterLiteratureWed, 28 Dec 2011 04:43:34 +0000http://www.afterliterature.org/home/2011/12/28/editorial-board-selection-december-28-2011.html337316:3559593:14350867         
         
Mulch ~ by Michaela Ridgway
         
Families fertilize our lives.
Like compost heaps
they tend to reek
of rotting household matter:

that Topless Snog in '85
(never ever to be pardoned)
those sticky lifelong labels
('Brainy', 'Pretty', 'Nutter')
sibling scraps (about the latter)
the empty wombs, the break-ups.

Layer on layer of earthy hurt
each stinking heap unique.
And us: the worms
that keep them turned.




Published in Orbis, Winter, 2011
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