Poetry: Brenda Iijima

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SHORN OF ITS HABITAT

as if a final descent                                          HABITUATION RABBIT

the primeval swamp

the common herd

the crowded giant suns                                    HOVERS THE NORM

the many questions posed

the many species written off

the most helpful people

in fact, the several individuals

in fact, their sense of loss                                              ENTREAT TREATY

TREATMENT            SUCKER            QUARREL           THESE CLAWS

in fact, there’s no way to measure

in fact, an international team

in fact, cremation, autopsy reports

in fact, temporalities

in fact, something to do with microeconomics        SUCK UP TO THE FACTS

in fact, the winning lottery ticket

in fact, regurgitation paragons

JUGULAR BONE BREAK                          HETEROTROPIC OSSIFICATION

bipedal apes

with opposable thumbs

without notice

the way tires squeal                         THE ANIMAL SHE FELL OUT OF A TREE

the way the day ends on the trading floor

the way you handle that device

the way advice is given                               WAS MOTHER

because where i live

where they live                          WAS MY MOTHER

where they live—                                SWARM AND FESTER

eternity of continuation

a flea, a parasite, a rat, a worm

a tick, a slug, a mouse                                    FEEDING BY DAY

easter bunny numb

WHITE CHOCOLATE MOCHA ROYALE BITTER SWEET DARK

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Brenda Iijima
is the author of Animate, Inanimate Aims (Litmus, 2007) and Around Sea (O Books, 2004). Her book, If Not Metamorphic was runner up for the Sawtooth Prize and will be published by Ahsahta Press. Chapbooks include Rabbit Lesson (forthcoming from Fewer & Further Press), Color and Its Antecedents (Yen Agat, 2004), Early Linoleum (Furniture Press, 2004), Spacious (Other Publications, 2003), Audible Bio (Longhouse, 2003), In a Glass Box (Pressed Wafer, 2002) and several other artist’s books. She is the editor of Portable Press at Yo-Yo Labs. Together with Evelyn Reilly she is editing a collection of essays by poets concerning poetry and ecological ethics titled )((eco(lang)(uage(reader). She is the art editor at Boog City as well as a visual artist. She lives in Brooklyn, New York where she designs and constructs homeopathic gardens.

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