JENDI REITER's first book, A Talent for Sadness, was published in 2003 by Turning Point Books, and her poetry chapbook Hound of Heaven is forthcoming from Southern Hum Press. Her work has appeared in Poetry, The New Criterion, Mudfish, The Sow's Ear Poetry Review, Clackamas Literary Review, Alligator Juniper, MARGIE: The American Journal of Poetry, Best American Poetry 1990 and many other publications. She is the editor of Poetry Contest Insider, an online guide to over 750 literary contests, published by www.winningwriters.com. Visit her blog at www.jendireiter.com.
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And Sarai Said
The Lord judge between me and thee dynamite
for a good time call it quits
even a baby can be believed
or bleed wriggle worm snicked by the knife
becomes two blind as one
baby can I call you baby
The Lord judge between me and thee by drowning
cries like a catbird that is to say
no pained mind behind the call believe baby
scientists pulling feathers
from the fallen star apple eater worm
The Lord judge between me and thee severed
severe verily reverberate
helmet lie open on ocean
floor for fish to understand prison
like bright dreams on the locked ward
describe that baby belief painted with food
ripped with crayons the first word
to die like an egg in the hand
The Lord judge between me and thee boiling
for a good time lick thrust murmur crack
dispense as written
under the skin only the lonely cutter's
face reflected in the blade The Lord
judge between thee
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FINALIST
46er Prize
