August 1, 2016

Two Poems by Krista Genevieve Farris: "Before the Fireworks: Langston at 2" and "Interpretive Dance with Apple"

Krista Genevieve Farris grew up a Hoosier, but now lives in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley with her husband and three sons. She has an MA in Anthropology from Indiana University and a BA in English and Anthropology from Albion College. Links to her recent writing can be found at her writer's website https://kristagenevievefarris.wordpress.com/ .





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Before the Fireworks: Langston at 2

We let him eat fireflies until his belly was full.

He caught one while we sat on black captain’s chairs
like babies in slings,
cranky with the muggy night.

He put it on his tongue.
Let the tickle
become pain.

We thought he’d stop at one, but the field was dazzling.

His run,their flight, his game
he snatched and gulped.

We wondered about independence, cruelty and consuming
                                                                  flashing
             lights.
                                             




Interpretive Dance with Apple

When they walked through the mud room
he said he could break dance.
She said she does hip hop.
then they played bad doggie
in three small rooms that were big to them.

He was the dog, she the owner.
He’d hide. She’d find him
in the pantry or crouching behind
an open door- but only if he yipped.
Otherwise, she’d ask me where to search.

They played like that until her daddy came
to get her and his daddy came home.
During dinner that night I sat at the table
and watched my son dance, turning round and round
with a Jubilee apple in the palm of his hand.


Krista Genevieve Farris





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