A BRIGHTER LOOK

Though the unworkable world
of my impossibility is always present,
incessant, unceasing, encircling,
it has turned ever so slightly,
causing previous decades
of different understandings,
or misunderstandings, to shift,
turning my face to the rays
of the always somewhere shining sun.

Possibility, after so long, emerges,
takes on unfamiliar shapes,
like eon-shaped, water worn rocks,
like Philip Glass repetition,
changing with continuing variation.

A SMALL TREE

stretches its branches
toward the ice night’s
cold stars. I forget
that elsewhere,
of course, is growing,

that green will come again,
turning where I stand
to tulips and tart rhubarb,
relaxing my winter will—
which now I wish
would right my brittle world.

THERE IS THIS DARKNESS

The tape
rolling
controlling
in my head
for years
showed ovens
and visits
to my
Germanic
relatives.
It plays on
the past.

Serial dreams
of a witch-
grandmother
have not
faded.
The dark closet
she placed me in
holds me forever
with my mother’s help.

But to dreams
and tapes
and documentaries
a new tape
has been added.
It plays
in the present.

A German
language
tape
I study
as I fall
asleep.

Night comes now
not always
with black fingers
or witches’ hats
but still sometimes.

WHAT I MAKE OF IT

My sons grew up
playing with their father
in summer and in snow.
They could have sailed
to Troy

            in the time
they stayed away
I wove
summer threads
into light fantasy,
and winter wool
into thicker
and heavy fabric-
ation

           until finally,
from remaining threads,
I make only this,
a story I repeat, then write,
and plan to press
between clothbound covers.
Ancient stories
in an old-fashioned book.

After receiving a Master’s Degree in English Literature from the University of Denver, Alita Pirkopf became increasingly interested in feminist interpretations of literature. Eventually, Alita enrolled in a poetry class at the University of Denver taught by Bin Ramke. Poetry became a long-term focus and obsession.

Alita’s work has appeared, or is forthcoming, in The Alembic, Artifact Nouveau, Burningword Literary Journal, Caduceus, The Cape Rock, The Chaffin Journal, The Distillery, Euphony Journal, Existere, Good Works Review, The Griffin, Haight Ashbury Literary Journal, Harpur Palate, Illya’s Honey, Lullwater Review, Moon City Review, The Paragon Journal, The Penmen Review, Quiddity, riverSedge, Rubbertop Review, Ship of Fools, Stonecoast Review, Temenos Journal, Vending Machine Press, Vox Poetica, Westview, and Willow Springs Review.