My Folks in Autumn
Alice Turski
everyone knows when it’s pumpkin time—–but me
and mine—imagine homely—–innards tinged——blue-grey
and all the days—-as if someone has forgotten protective
plastic is meant—to be peeled——I did mean—to say someone——-it wasn’t me
you can still——-visit us—–and forewarned——–our lights
shut off and in our keep:—a smelling for turning you golden, you
demise of splendiferous———–fog slunking over———-for petting
believing hands:—–I don’t know—–about you, but I welcome
the cover we’ve been left to——twilight——–eucalyptus litter—–bed of ball
cacti——there wasn’t always so much of me;——-I meant
twilight when I said—plastic———so much—–laughing this past summer
like that painful joke—-if you haven’t seen a pomelo you’re in
for a treat or—scare—-just one family we are———-little connivance
left for an insult—–to be let gone,——swept for shared bread,
gluttonous sponge you called me——with a dabbing of—bubbles, this
that time of year again if you do—-decide to come over———put your hat on
the HEPA filter by the front door——–brush the ash—from your coat
like it’s dust—–it is—–we will be sweeping—after—your departure————outside
it is raging————-please track no mud inside—-only, please
cover my mouth—-if I talk——in one—-unbecoming language———I’ve been put
here—–to translate——-brrrrrrrr——-what—am I—saying————–oh
dear————-I’ve spilled on you
Alice Turski grew up in Houston, Texas and received her MFA from Cornell University, where she now teaches creative writing and literature. Alice’s poems have been published or are forthcoming in places such as Verse Daily, PRISM, The Greensboro Review, and Copper Nickel.