POEMS BY
MIRACLE THORNTON
SAINT MARTIN ON MORAL IMPERATIVE
Harassed, I hustle. I thought this paranoia
escaped with the better part of me, in exile.
Geese are territorial, I know—but they river
and I feet—square into the corner of a basin,
ruining the walls with incessant smoke. I mimic
geese out of admiration, not jealousy—smoulder
in long corridors of wind, hiccup through night,
eat what I find off of the floor—the ants, tender
scapes, the hypergraphic’s final draft. I dream
and then put things in my mouth: foot—nails—
a megalithic godemiche—getting the job done
before the sun finds out that I am staying sane,
that I do not want to come to light. I want to be
alone in my vulva, my conscience—my material
goods witness to dust. I want to chase my alpine
mastiff from goslings, to forgive him for ripping
my special shirt, to forgive my father for the fights
he fled. I’ve forgone touch for charity, patience—
Patience must only be a virtue to the uninspired.
For those that mock and idle. Patience is a stone,
crushing the heart’s spurt. Patience: temporary
salve to a burning man. Patience: a mule’s virtue.
The sore shoulder of the eternal bachelor. Hero,
set me free. They say the best rulers are those
reluctant to power. Blind. Must you render me
redundant as an appendix? I shall ask the geese.
PALE HORSES
Godgifu, I have both vanity and ambition. Godgifu,
I am incapable of remaining content with half-know-
ledge. Tell me about the rash, the haste, the appeal.
Tell me how to suspend my pride, for a moment, to
attempt beyond the gilded horizon. The albatross
straddled the wind and a man. The albatross super-
ceded the gull by way of heated looks. Off, a man
of mischief, burning for burning—scorched. The
skeleton of the horse—anguished blue. The veil
lifted with a sigh, didn’t it, Godgifu? A dark dan-
ce started in your heart at the sight of his body
that night, hands like kid gloves teethed soft, li-
ght.
Miracle Thornton is a writer from New Jersey. Her poetry chapbook, plucked, was selected in the 2023 Rattle Chapbook Prize. Other work has appeared in Rattle, DREGINALD, Silent Auctions, and elsewhere. She wants to know your favorite song.