by Mary Paynter Sherwin

1.
who are we carrying
on the small little stamping legs
		day of twelve
		education of architecture
mother lets out the hem
cuts all of hairs every month Saturday
		animal film
		woven table leg
he is eating with eighteen cousins
on low planes over the oceans
		head reef bound
		locks the door

2.
I just thought of how I lied.

We will start closer to the end
so we can finish sooner.

I only climb rocks with my son.

We will begin earlier in the day
so they have more time to bake the chicken.

I sometimes turn the river backward.

We will end further from the church
so the chapel fits into the frame.

3.
say the story of being raised by horse

say we are shorn of girl hair from the chin

say meetings occur in international waters

say this is the mother of the tongue

say Atacama slowly, the desert place where it will never rain

say he is the brute like you explained

say each blow for a year in confinement