Poems by Christopher Dizon
Mandible Claw
The anatomy of a jaw is the
bottom half of a conversation held
together with bone and fury, fusing
fangs with contempt and a row of dental
anecdotes all saying the same secrets.
They’re private thoughts submerged in crevices
of gum line—tooth decay, unattended
hurt that diagrams a human bite: you
are what you eat: mistakes. A claw as a
noun is the curved and pointed nail of a
predator. A claw as a verb is wild
instinct, ripping egos, lacerating
dreams, raking expectations. Combine the
two; understand a tongue is a talon.
Swan-tan Bomb
The wrestler’s encyclopedia entry
of water fowl moves describes dynamite
as a Cygnus bird forced to migrate with
geese at great lengths. Kayfab Britannica
explains that proper explosions begin
by stretching the neck outward. Fast liquid
of lake racing adrenaline and
raids of Odette and Odile form flying
V’s against ancient history. Hatch the
brand new you. Refuse to tread water like
ducks and form a monogamous pair bond
with the sky above the ropes. This is home.
Your new finisher detonates the past,
creating a ballet that is canon.
Christopher Dizon earned an M.A. in Comparative Literature from California State University, East Bay. His previous publications include Quiet Lightning’s Sparkle and Blink, Blue Crow Magazine, Red Ogre Review, Volney Road Review, and The Bear Arts Journal. He lives in the Bay Area of California.
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