To Satiate the Living

by Chloe Cook

To Satiate the Living

I

Skid-mark clouds drifted
with undetectable urgency.
Ofrendas of marigolds and alfeñiques
ornamented most headstones.

Pan dulce crumbs induced sugar-rabies
in the squirrels; horchata spillage
obscured family photographs.
Despite temptation, the spirits did not return.

A mariachi of widowers sang beneath
a hunched yew tree—its branches hung
low enough to invade a makeshift altar
and pluck a cherry Chupa Chup.

II

Daybreak leaked across the cemetery,
pouring light over plastic utensils
and styrofoam plates jutting
from the grassy burial plots.

November tugged at nostalgia’s hem;
some disfigured coyote lapped
a puddle of rice pudding.
Music refrained from overtaking breakfast.

At noon, an unkindness of Catholics crowded
the church pews, bellies curdled
with overindulgence,
prayer hands stiff as yew bark.

   

   

Author Chloe Cook holds a BA in English from Northern Kentucky University. Her work is featured or forthcoming in Bayou Magazine, The Journal, Arkansas Review, Mississippi Review, Atlanta Review, and elsewhere. She is currently an MFA candidate at the University of Florida. Learn more about her work at chloecookwrites.com.

Artist Jeri Lewis Edwards is a naturalist, published poet and visual artist. She resides along the Central Coast of California. She is a self-described ‘camp director’ to her two rescue dogs with whom she hikes and plays every day. View her faces on Instagram: @Jeri2ravensstudio.