77 Fragments of a Familiar Ruin

Thomas King

• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
• Year: 2019
• ISBN:
  9781443459457
• Topic: Literature
• Subtopic: Poetry
• Index: Literature

Timely, important, mischievous, powerful: in a word, exceptional

Seventy-seven poems intended as a eulogy for what we have squandered, a reprimand for all we have allowed, a suggestion for what might still be salvaged, a poetic quarrel with our intolerant and greedy selves, a reflection on mortality and longing, as well as a long-running conversation with the mythological currents that flow throughout North America.

1

As for the garden,

Adam,

after the Fall.

Make no mistake, he said,

we will destroy it all.

2

Okay.

Let’s try this again.

And so you don’t make

the same mistake twice,

Adam was just a joke

the Otters made up

to annoy the Ducks.

And it was a Turtle,

please pay attention,

not a garden.

3

Set the running days in line,

tie down the wind.

Mark mountains out with minor tones,

dig up the stories,

paint the bones,

the snow is on the ground.

4

And so we’re clear,

in the beginning

there was nothing.

Just the water.

Okay, so there were water birds

and some water animals as well.

Okay, and the Turtle.

Okay, okay, and the light in the western heavens

that was not a star

but a falling woman

slicing through the sky

like a bright knife.

5

I bite my nails.

I fold toilet paper into squares,

wipe once

then fold again.

Raccoons no longer rent movies.

At the airport, Americans took my nail file

but they’ll sell guns to anyone.

I should lose weight.

Somewhere a child is being comforted by her father.

On the off-chance the world will end tomorrow,

I have begun to read the minor poets.

But there is no hope.

6

Coyote goes to the doctor

to get tested.

You have had Adverse Childhood Experiences,

says the doctor.

That would explain why I’m so mischievous,

says Coyote.

That would explain why I don’t learn quickly.

That would explain why I can’t control my emotions.

That would explain why I mess up the world.

That will be three hundred and thirty dollars,

says the doctor.

That would explain why I won’t pay you,

says Coyote.

I’ve had Adverse Childhood Experiences,

Coyote tells all his friends.

Can they be cured? says Beaver.

Can they be treated? says Bear.

Let’s hope you won’t be like this

for the rest of your life, says Turtle.

I’m sure Social Services will be able to help me,

says Coyote.

All the animals laugh and agree

that this is one of Coyote’s better jokes.

7

Somewhere in space

a missile platform

lingers in orbit.

Bored.

Wondering, in its perfect solitude,

how hard it would be

to bring down a star.

8

There are no good jobs in the slaughterhouse.

Those with the knives....