Poems Niederngasse

Rachel Mallino
He Doesn't Know
About That Which
Breathes Without Books


Scholarly - his books pearls, strung
between hands, he writes poetry
as an illusion of jewels to the poor.

Stuffs ideals inside jacket pockets
like crumpled paper, warms his weapon
with their purpose but slices thin skin.

He disregards culmination--
that sex comes first,
then the child. The beast lives not

in the lines, but between them.

Barks at those who write
poetry with thread, not royalty,
and when the clasp breaks

his fortunes crack at the fall.

10 February 2005, round II, poem 10

Rachel Mallino has been published in the Literati Review,
Saucyvox.com Review and NPAC. She won second place in the April 2003  Net Poetry and Art Competition, and has moderated numerous online poetry forums. Rachel has been dreaming poetry since the age of 13, and is regularly inspired by other poets such as Charles Bukowski,  Sylvia Plath, Jim Carroll and Marge Piercy. Currently, Rachel lives in South Florida with her daughter and kitty cat.
Email:  Rachel Mallino