“Praise” by Gillian Sze
Poetry Pause is the League of Canadian Poets’ daily poetry dispatch. Read “Praise” by Gillian Sze.
Praise
By Gillian Sze
When the day is right
you pluck the axe from its spot in the shed.
The sun holds its breath
the mail is checked
the cat makes his way next door
the cars rolling out of their driveways strike
in symphony at eight.
This is the season where flowers are contagious,
the sky has an architecture I could never rebuild,
each blade of grass howls,
and something between here and there shouts
Enough!
On these days
when the gate has clicked shut
you take the hatchet to me
with the attentiveness of a lover
and then count my rings by two,
with your finger and thumb
to keep your place.
Copyright ยฉ Gillian Sze
Previously published in Panicle (ECW Press, 2017).
Gillian Sze is the author of multiple poetry books and picture books. Her book of poems and essays, Quiet Night Think, received the Pat Lowther Memorial Award. She lives in Montreal where she teaches at Concordia University.
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