“The Book of Hours ” And “ The Ways They Silence Women ”

Abstract

“The Book of Hours ” And “ The Ways They Silence Women ” Angela Veronica Wong (bio) The Book of Hours January It begins, suspended bustles and thighs that don’t touch spread like a mass grave uncovered. February Is this you hovering? Face, curving letters and exclamations, mouth-tough and glistening a threat. [End Page 261] March Your body— white shark. April squeeze together bleed into and out of pretense discontinue promise May Moss weather and yellow identity. June Crablike I creak gold and pearl. July i itch you peel my skin off like a tarp [End Page 262] August memory suicide September my mythology punishes. October In my dream, I moved your hand onto my belt. You parted my lips. We were not far apart then. You did not speak You were welcome intrusion You were list less lost last lust I forget. November cold like jade I self-heal expand like a clot I am chemical I am blood in the toilet [End Page 263] cliffs shrinking wet cornhusk three colors haunting each other hunted unsettled discard I am purposeful bride December like sleep, falls lightly. The Ways They Silence Women the ways they silence women: roll of paper or piece of wood stuffed these are days when living as a woman is acknowledging you are a rape waiting to happen no matter how many lemons you scrub on your skin to stop smelling of yourself Angela Veronica Wong Angela Vernica Wong recently named a kitten Galliano and even more recently painted her bathroom hot pink. She lives and dances in New York City. Her poems appear or are forthcoming in Barrow Street, Womb, and Court Green. Acknowledgment The calendar poems are a series of short poems under the title “The Book of Hours.” “June” was previously published in Foursquare (edited and published by Jessica Smith, 2007; reprinted by permission of the author). [End Page 264] Copyright © 2008 Kathryn Abrams & Irene Kacandes