when it rains
a big black snail carries its black pearl
a liquid animal ever-flowing to the lowest ground
leaks its plumbing behind
like a puppet as the hand slides out
mumbles to itself before silence
a liquid animal ever-flowing to the lowest ground
leaks its plumbing behind
like a puppet as the hand slides out
mumbles to itself before silence
the snail drags its oil and its engine
like a tube of icing writes letters on a birthday cake
stretches sentences until the tube is dry and thrown away
leaving a black pearl
in the center of a soft white space
More Arts&Culture » Poet's Corner
Arresting an Orange at the Corner of 12th and K
A poem by Patricia D’Alessandro of Sacramento.
Published on 10.16.03