Fragments of the First Two Weeks: After Malachi Black

Abstract

Fragments of the First Two WeeksAfter Malachi Black Brian B. Russell (bio) I.It began: dark red:the back of an eyelid. I.Forced from somewherefreshly broken,without a minuteto mourn the loss of warmth,head first into a lightblue glove. I.A peal of bellsand a mobile. I.Milk warm as blood,a little grittier. I.My nose and how it’sconnected to my throat,the wiggle in my toes,the amusement ofthose standing over me. [End Page 70] I.What was that bittersmell—lemons rottingon branches outsidemy window? I.The inequalityof heat in a touchhaving to adjustto the pain that camewith my mother’s handpatting my back. I.The vomiting andnot wanting to bealive. I.The knowing thatsomething was growingin my gums. I.The knowing thatthat there was moreto come. I.My first dream and theweak screams after waking. I.I understood deathdifferently thenas the smell of lemons [End Page 71] and a memoryof somewhere else. I.There was a stuffed bearwearing a raincoatand a blue blanket. I.Someone put a pillowunder my head. [End Page 72] Brian B. Russell Brian B. Russell received his mfa from the University of California Irvine, and his work has been published or is forthcoming in Columbia Journal, Sycamore Review, and elsewhere. Copyright © 2021 University of Nebraska Press