Dear P.
There will be a circle of girls there will be
many circles of girls who turn into circles of
women there will be many parties many grills with
corn and meat losing its red center there will
also be a circle of crows who circle the circle of
boars who circle the circle of grass work
their way into its center there will be a circle
of gnats who circle the dirty boars because
there are awards for grouping easier than
absence easier than working against easier than
separating water with curtains good things are
often in pieces are backing away from
doorways are alone the heart is alone in
our bodies because it must be to love
Dear P.
Let her let them collect others let them hurl depth
over the balcony in the meantime it’s not about
purpose but about the person buy stackables and
store your selves in them let everyone in though
don’t pull the curtains closed or snap the buttons shut
the girls might try to come in might try to throw
you out woe you the boys might lure you out
please don’t kowtow to them the wars aren’t
real there are three ways to still everyone
with love don’t eat the meat of your enemies
because it tastes just like your tongue don’t meet
them in the middle just jump in the puddle
together and fill in the white space the wind is
fine with being homeless but we are not the wind
Dear P.
One night the power in your house will
disappear apparitions will appear your
appetite will disappear you will be left with
only dark and grey ghosts who know you
more than anyone do not light a candle or find
a flashlight do not try and shape the pain do
not find any lights that cut darkness into pieces
let night pile up there is peace in darkness there are
no loud speakers in darkness all tears are equal in
darkness underneath the coat of blinding night
is truth and the difference between truth and
everything else is that you can see everything else
don’t worry everything you reluctantly give me
you will eventually get back
Victoria Chang's fourth book of poems, is Barbie Chang, from Copper Canyon Press. Her prior book, The Boss (McSweeney’s Poetry Series, 2013), won the PEN Center USA Literary Award and a California Book Award. Other books are Salvinia Molesta and Circle. Chang lives in Southern California and teaches at Chapman University and Orange County School of the Arts. You can find her at www.victoriachangpoet.com