Little Non-Elegies for Pills and a Glass of Water 

Priscilla Atkins

Night Grande

She’s ivy and tea
and a cherry piano.
Some afternoons she invites a man – 
but the nights are hers
and the baby grand’s.

*

Stolen Star

At the reception
I stole a star off the table,
took a tiny bite—(sweet, toot sweet)—
smuggled it outside
and tossed it in the snow.

*

Scene for a Novel

He said what he had to say three blocks 
off Michigan Avenue.
His full lips opened; closed.

*

About Her

I love how everything 
about her 
is unapologetically large.

*

.25 MG

“If one doesn’t work
take two; if two
doesn’t work, take four” –
(I can see where this is going).

*

Genet

I don’t got the energy for Jean Genet tonight;
Sorry, Genet – not tonight!

*

From Here He Went to Houston

From here, he went to Oxford.
Then on to Iowa; then Houston.
Then, elbows requisitely patched  he came back and told us all:
about the importance of the pause.