MURPHY SQUARE 1990 Unbound This collection is dedicated to those who have the courage to tell their deepest secrets to themselves. Volume XV 1990 Augsburg College Minneapolis, MN
CONTENTS Lisa M. Campton "The Great White Heron: Observed" Steve Frcdlund "Apples" Timothy Sudeith "Help" Douglas E. Green "Family Album: Deborah" "First Love" Alayne Thorcson "I See You Falling" Karen Neitge "lmpasto" Jocllyn M. Gum "Morning" Sherri Larson "Golden Sacrament" Douglas Haney "moon"... Show moreCONTENTS Lisa M. Campton "The Great White Heron: Observed" Steve Frcdlund "Apples" Timothy Sudeith "Help" Douglas E. Green "Family Album: Deborah" "First Love" Alayne Thorcson "I See You Falling" Karen Neitge "lmpasto" Jocllyn M. Gum "Morning" Sherri Larson "Golden Sacrament" Douglas Haney "moon" "Transportation" Karen Neitge "Sunday Morning“ Bronwcn Stine "The Progress of Milk" "Washing" Edward M. Sabclla "time out" John Mitchell "Mother-Tongue" "54 in Butiaba" Pat Noren "Gramma W." "The Artist" 10 ll 12 13 20 31 32 33 34 Show less
Angie Wareham "Illusions of Decay" Mark R. Olson "Philippians 2:5-11" "Reincarnation" Lisa Dietz "Overdose" "Woman. Do You Know?" Angie Wareham "Nightmare" Kathryn Swanson "Carpe Diem" Pat Linder Ortmayer "A Letter to Ernest" Adam Pieri-Johnson "Time of Life" Joel Thoreson "That's Life" "A Winter... Show moreAngie Wareham "Illusions of Decay" Mark R. Olson "Philippians 2:5-11" "Reincarnation" Lisa Dietz "Overdose" "Woman. Do You Know?" Angie Wareham "Nightmare" Kathryn Swanson "Carpe Diem" Pat Linder Ortmayer "A Letter to Ernest" Adam Pieri-Johnson "Time of Life" Joel Thoreson "That's Life" "A Winter Afternoon at the Historical Society" Edward M. Sabella "Coke-Lite" Chad Pierro "Anima Projection" "tangled reflection" Anjie Tonolli "Reflections" Pamela Jean Hartwell "Pigeon Messiah" Carolyn Schueller "Blanche: To Illusion" Jennifer Robertson "Das Ende der Mauer" About the contributors 37 38 4o 42 45 46 47 51 52 54 55 56 59 60 63 64 Show less
Lisa M. Campton "The Great White Heron: Observed" (‘3;‘5‘ , e' ‘ W7. “SO-l i ww‘,_°“.sw” “hushrmfl 5 W. ‘ '4 “5?...” In!" I 41d .7144. “at”! a \ Ln?“ c w (W x, {2 s‘g‘oéfiinfip n'fiffigffi .6 s“ \‘ ‘ ; 02' ’ . 6‘» 49%..“ y. er “s ’9 l Mulll,“' “5 5M mm“ m mu: 4 bu.” KnuLmJ‘, ’7: lung'th 1.30/0 "mu pk... Show moreLisa M. Campton "The Great White Heron: Observed" (‘3;‘5‘ , e' ‘ W7. “SO-l i ww‘,_°“.sw” “hushrmfl 5 W. ‘ '4 “5?...” In!" I 41d .7144. “at”! a \ Ln?“ c w (W x, {2 s‘g‘oéfiinfip n'fiffigffi .6 s“ \‘ ‘ ; 02' ’ . 6‘» 49%..“ y. er “s ’9 l Mulll,“' “5 5M mm“ m mu: 4 bu.” KnuLmJ‘, ’7: lung'th 1.30/0 "mu pk up Pm {at fiejflg.‘b+ um“, (twp; 5143.. . If V'- J-n: cw)", fit MTWW 7‘ “ r". Ike/M, J. 5 “pp, Mr Ll“! ' «MM. ’5‘" t ’L , ‘Mz “Iklz'nfz'm, ‘ "9A; Show less
Steve Fredlund APPLES Everytime I eat apples. it's 1976 Father rests his head on his hand Elbow on the '68 Mustang convertible Larry rides his new bicycle around the petite white house. camelot He hits the apple tree in the front yard and stumbles to resaddle I chuckle Father doesn't move He... Show moreSteve Fredlund APPLES Everytime I eat apples. it's 1976 Father rests his head on his hand Elbow on the '68 Mustang convertible Larry rides his new bicycle around the petite white house. camelot He hits the apple tree in the front yard and stumbles to resaddle I chuckle Father doesn't move He lights a cigarette Again Larry circles the house and again is thrust from the bucking bronco l laugh Father leaves Larry hits me The laughter is gone As is father The taste of Granny Smith brings him back Show less
Douglas E. Green Family Album: Deborah I know you from a picture taken long after he beat you when the swelling sent your insides tumbling into your an empty deadly pregnancy. I know you from the one hand poised on the crank of the brand-new Gramophone (gift of a dutiful daughter). the other... Show moreDouglas E. Green Family Album: Deborah I know you from a picture taken long after he beat you when the swelling sent your insides tumbling into your an empty deadly pregnancy. I know you from the one hand poised on the crank of the brand-new Gramophone (gift of a dutiful daughter). the other hovering over your velvet-swathed breast. I know you from the one-sided Caruso 78's you played on your deathbed touched by the culture you fostered and preserved: I found them, unplayable. saved by daughter after 9“ in memory of gold-curtained tales of old Met divas singing Wagner hour after hour and on Hungarian pianists you tended at home. I know you from the holy words you gave to this new tongue you gave to America David's song refreshed to women of the tribes a voice unashamed and public to your daughter and the line proof of grace in suffering and strength beyond that of the body. Show less
Douglas E. Green First Love One night I caught you in each other's arms like young lovers necking on the couch awkward embrace of parents. Now i do not want what you have had and have--cannot want it in a world that does not rest at home with the kids upstairs. But that night I came down... Show moreDouglas E. Green First Love One night I caught you in each other's arms like young lovers necking on the couch awkward embrace of parents. Now i do not want what you have had and have--cannot want it in a world that does not rest at home with the kids upstairs. But that night I came down unexpected after bed-time (too old to really have one) my surprise surpassed even yours and just once. for once in the hush-hush matters, 1 did not feel shame-- i exulted in your love. Show less
Mayne Thoreson I SEE YOU FALLING Running, I see you tumbling head over heels through the air. Arms and brittle legs flailing. you land on the sod with a thud. Red mixes with green and dust becomes paste. I lean over your body. but you were gone when I got there.
Morning Joellyn M. Gum I lie and watch him As he lies here asleep. the pale covers moving To his heavy breathing that guides life in. slow...dccp. He travels from me In a vehicle 0f dreams that could be Cold reality. Yet his body is so near with skin smooth and pale. That still tastes of sweet,... Show moreMorning Joellyn M. Gum I lie and watch him As he lies here asleep. the pale covers moving To his heavy breathing that guides life in. slow...dccp. He travels from me In a vehicle 0f dreams that could be Cold reality. Yet his body is so near with skin smooth and pale. That still tastes of sweet, salty sweat made last night From my entrapment. His back is toward me. A triangular sea of rising, falling, flesh With long, dark kelp that rises up from the depths. Placed sporadically. A handful cast down To land where they please, Just as Fate herself Has thrown him into the world to land in my bed Like those of the past who were cast out by the cold Leaving me alone. But he is here now, A man I slept with after two weeks, just like those . Who honored these sheets with the gifts from their -i. Before he arrived ‘ Before I knew him Before he knew me. Now he's dangerous. This is not forever. I will not let it be. Fate help me. cast him into a more welcome bed. May he leave the cold. Show less
Sherri Larson Golden Sacrament She feels his softness She feels his strength wrapped around her securing, covering. choking. She sees that band. surrounding his freedom He hides it with his apathy. Who's the owner of that band. that covenant, he cherishes, kinda? Who's the giver of that golden... Show moreSherri Larson Golden Sacrament She feels his softness She feels his strength wrapped around her securing, covering. choking. She sees that band. surrounding his freedom He hides it with his apathy. Who's the owner of that band. that covenant, he cherishes, kinda? Who's the giver of that golden sacrament? Who holds the other? He's right; it probably doesn't matter. Show less
moon when inspiration only comes from rock songs it's possible to watch the moon move across the power lines and to know it is lying on a clear night full and massive brightness says i am here and then moves out of the frame of the window but the brightness lends to even the pretentious they mean... Show moremoon when inspiration only comes from rock songs it's possible to watch the moon move across the power lines and to know it is lying on a clear night full and massive brightness says i am here and then moves out of the frame of the window but the brightness lends to even the pretentious they mean what they say on a clear night and love goes out to any of the ugliest witches 10 Douglas Haney Show less
Transportation 1. You are gone. Nighttime has swallowed The train And I do not follow. 2. Electric light. Reflections on iron. Grease and glass Maybe will remind me of a blank white box back in my eye. I will think of my loss. Yet I do not follow. 3. Not only train stations. But darkness of night... Show moreTransportation 1. You are gone. Nighttime has swallowed The train And I do not follow. 2. Electric light. Reflections on iron. Grease and glass Maybe will remind me of a blank white box back in my eye. I will think of my loss. Yet I do not follow. 3. Not only train stations. But darkness of night. Not being lonely. But electric light. Can do this to a body. More than the rumble Of a passing train. ll Douglas Haney 4. I have memorized Lifetimes rolling by. or passing under a street comer lamp. I have fallen in love With demons and angels. But stuck to old intentions. 5. And l do not follow. In the station Electric light off iron and grease Reflects on all faces. Show less
13 Bronwen Stine "The Progress of Milk" It is hot. and I am happy it is hot. They say that people become foul-tempered in the heat. that crime waves rise on heat waves, flooding the city with axe murders and race riots, but I like it hot. My blood is so chilled by centuries of Northern European... Show more13 Bronwen Stine "The Progress of Milk" It is hot. and I am happy it is hot. They say that people become foul-tempered in the heat. that crime waves rise on heat waves, flooding the city with axe murders and race riots, but I like it hot. My blood is so chilled by centuries of Northern European procreation that it takes a real searing summer to penetrate the iciness of my soul. The heat is cleansing. I like to fight the heat because I know the heat will eventually win. I know it will help take the edge off my curdled blood. In the evenings I wet my top bed sheet in the bathtub with cold water. I open the window to my room and put the electric fan at the foot of my bed. I have metal rings on the comers of my bed for those gentle games I play with my lover when he is here. He is not here now. I lie the comers of the wet sheet to each of the four rings. It balloons up over my bed like a pink mushroom. I crawl in. By morning the top sheet is dry and crisp. Sometime during the night it has started to snap in Show less