9 July 2005 | Vol. 5, No. 2

To Wake

by KRISTINE LEJA

i.          Wake v.:

My plastic blinds, cast light                 To stir,

Like sleeping tabby cats, stomachs exposed, ringlets of striped fur,

                        as from a dormant or inactive condition;

I am tiger striped                                rouse:

and when you touch me you are too.

ii.         Waking v.:

Eucalyptus tree, leafy overtones, nondescript truck

edging into—a collapse of leaves,

splintered branches expose.              To be brought into

A lone painted pony, etched with gold q's and

            curls, sways against the—Impact

                                                            a state of

an aqua green saddle slipping sideways.

I smell snapped saplings, catch browned leaves

            awareness or alertness:

as I wait for the bus.

iii.        Awaken v.:

Italian bread halved. Placed

on tin foil                      to put into action;

butter and garlic whisked

You slice cheeses over and into the bread

            to stir up; as,

which is slit sideways, vertical/horizontal,

            tin foil folds can't contain smells

                                    to awake the dormant faculties

that seep beneath my skin and into yours.