Bill Cushing (Western Voices 2022)

Bio: Bill Cushing lived in various states, the Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico before moving to California. He earned an MFA from Goddard College. Published in numerous journals and anthologies, both online and in print, Bill is a multiple Pushcart Prize nominee, and his most recent chapbook of poetry, . . .this just in. . ., combines selected writings with visual art. He facilitates a writing group (9 Bridges). Bill’s first book A Former Life was honored by the Kops-Featherling International Book Award committee; his chapbook (Music Speaks) was honored at the 2019 San Gabriel Valley Poetry Festival and with a New York City Book Award.

 

A SUADELA’S SHARDOMA

I feel the

edge of her nails as

her hand strokes

my arm. Her

inked dragonfly brings me to

the art of longing.

Enticing

me from the corner

of the bed,

one bare and

bended leg beckons, and I

lightly kiss her thigh.

***

ALLISON ATTEMPTS SUICIDE

Perhaps she tired of the epilepsy

crowning her life.

Perhaps her social awkwardness

proved too crippling

Our lives separated by 15 years, 

she’s old enough 

for anguish, yet too young 

to see other options. 

How easy, sometimes, to forget

life’s most difficult 

choices become the most important

ones we make. Still,

the choice is ours. Life may be 

boring, terrifying, 

or trite, but, above all, one 

must stay alive.

Hardest job on earth.

***

GREETING MARCIELLE

“I prefer Mars,”

she declares during sign-in 

when asked for 

her name of choice,

so she assumes 

the port of the god of war.

The problem is—

if there is one—

she herself resists,

this militant pacifist, 

this poet warrior.

*** 

---

Setu, April 2022