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PURGATORY POEM

All my feelings crusted
on the lip of the jar.
Why does milk do that
and how did we decide it’s okay
to drink. Everything taken
for granted once a miracle.
Wonderbread the result
of someone hunched over
hitting grain with a rock.
It wasn’t until the fifth day
in the ICU I realized
miraculous came from miracle.

I came from my mother
and now I can’t fit into her jeans.
Dreams turn mundane.

I can’t remember if I left
the oven on in real life.
The days of the week meaningless
except to mark when I can park
in the garage for free.
Please protect me, mundanity,
from the miracles

I haven’t gotten used to yet—
let me stay surprised
when I stretch my leg in bed
and graze someone else’s.

KIRBY KNOWLTON

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