6 August 2007 | Vol. 7, No. 2

Works of Mercy

by NEIL DE LA FLOR

I.

The fisherman threatens to climb philodendrons with daisy cutters. Threatens to mount his motorbike barebacked. Ursula emerges from behind stacked bricks. Like hyenas they thrash in ghetto-rage.

II.

Daughter pirouettes on Formica slabs in lavender tutu. Pirouettes off stage at Tiny Tot Theater. Behind crushed velvet in pigtails she takes a last lick of Tutti Frutti before she jumps into Swan Lake.

III.

1, 2, 3—plunk!

IV.

Fisherman appears in his fel