a crevice, a consequence of this

by Evan Gray

tilling the garden    we lifted the hands of a fawn
 ……………………………half-dead & cut    to be

composted in nature   rock is stricken with roots

pawpaw’s bones     behind this place
late & wind damaged   mistaken despite having

growth   new growth that bears flowers
skin rotting in October   where she later found it dead

8:25 in evening   & we point in the distance
   …….unto areas where we are not wanted

each compound   leaf known    beneath barbwire
black charred bark of free burn    harmonizing colors

this is a quiet end   pointing back at myself

Evan Gray lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and is from Jefferson, North Carolina. He is the author of three chapbooks of poetry: Blindspot (The Rest (Garden-Door Press, 2018); Dusk Melody (Shirt-Pocket Press, 2019); BODY BIRTH (above/ground press, 2019). He teaches courses in creative writing and literature at Point Park University and the University of Pittsburgh.

City of Asylum believes that All Pittsburghers are Poets. With the Poem of the Week series, we seek to increase the readership and appreciation of poetry locally by publishing poems written by residents of Allegheny County of all ages and levels of experience. In partnership with the Poetry Editors at Sampsonia Way Magazine, City of Asylum advances our mission to defend, celebrate, and build on creative freedom of expression. This project received a RADical ImPAct Grant from RAD (Allegheny Regional Asset District).