News Poetry: A Different Sort of Eden

Sometimes a woman, to defend herself,

or her cubs, will dress up as a bear,

pluck, one by one, the twenty ribs of a man,

and strap them on as claws.

 

This is not a woman to be trifled with,

even if you see the seams in her suit,

even if you fashion yourself a tamer of wild animals,

even if, especially if, you are a snake, a smooth-talker, a bit of a devil.

 

No, do not mess with her,

no matter how shiny your apple.

 

Photo credit: Lisa Parker, Creative Commons, Flickr 

Jose A. Alcantara is a former construction worker, baker, commercial fisherman, math teacher, and studio photographer. He currently works in a bookstore in Aspen, Colorado. His poems have appeared, or are forthcoming, in Poetry Daily, The Southern Review, Spillway, Rattle, Beloit Poetry Journal, and 99 Poems for the 99%.

1 COMMENT

  1. Jose is my brother and a very sweet soul and talented poet . Keep up the great writing . I love you bro.

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