Jenna Cardinale
four poems
**
Decalcomania
He applies beige
paper over the wet
paint that is
my body—
Pulling it
off
creates unexpected
effects—
**
A Cabinet with a Magic
Skin that barely— Be nicer
with a mouthful—
The room recalled
a wolf—
Bright red in her
dark— Cunts like
little—
I thought think—
An artifice, that
I—
Fascicle 1
**
The Artificial Heart Gives
The hands in
and out— Flames growing
small—
The century he kneels in—
My wedding ring trapped
inside— The end of his
given—
Marry into
one— Wear the new
holes—
LIT 6
**
Definition of War
I. Deterrence & Engagement
...Prevention of an occurrence
...By means of doubt
...Betrothal
...Employment
II. Seize the Initiative
....Grasp with the mind
....Overwhelm physically
....Beyond any other
....An introductory step
....On one’s own
III. Decisive Operations
..........Unmistakable
..........A particular form of work
..........Unethical or illegal business
IV. Post-Conflict
..........Warning against trespassing
..........A state of open
..........A state of disharmony
..........Often unconscious
**
return to sawbuck 1.2
**
Jenna Cardinale is the author of Journals (Whole Coconut, 2006). Her poems appear in recent or forthcoming issues of Court Green, Blue Mesa Review, Free Verse, Dead Horse Review and McSweeney's, among others. She lives in New York, where she teaches poetry writing at Lehman College.
**
Decalcomania
He applies beige
paper over the wet
paint that is
my body—
Pulling it
off
creates unexpected
effects—
**
A Cabinet with a Magic
Skin that barely— Be nicer
with a mouthful—
The room recalled
a wolf—
Bright red in her
dark— Cunts like
little—
I thought think—
An artifice, that
I—
Fascicle 1
**
The Artificial Heart Gives
The hands in
and out— Flames growing
small—
The century he kneels in—
My wedding ring trapped
inside— The end of his
given—
Marry into
one— Wear the new
holes—
LIT 6
**
Definition of War
I. Deterrence & Engagement
...Prevention of an occurrence
...By means of doubt
...Betrothal
...Employment
II. Seize the Initiative
....Grasp with the mind
....Overwhelm physically
....Beyond any other
....An introductory step
....On one’s own
III. Decisive Operations
..........Unmistakable
..........A particular form of work
..........Unethical or illegal business
IV. Post-Conflict
..........Warning against trespassing
..........A state of open
..........A state of disharmony
..........Often unconscious
**
return to sawbuck 1.2
**
Jenna Cardinale is the author of Journals (Whole Coconut, 2006). Her poems appear in recent or forthcoming issues of Court Green, Blue Mesa Review, Free Verse, Dead Horse Review and McSweeney's, among others. She lives in New York, where she teaches poetry writing at Lehman College.
