Poem with a Mink Coat
By Cynthia Atkins
(After The Zone of Interest) Woman snaps door shut // a glance over her shoulder// something like shame// in a gesture// // like a dismal secret //meant only for her// She lifts the coat//from the sturdy hook// it’s the fur of a being // that once had eyes and teeth // A being now sewn// with pearl buttons // We watch the woman// dare herself // to slip// into the dense fold of underfur// It must feel like the warm embrace// of an enemy// Her ivory hands // tuft up the collar// She gazes at herself in the mirror// and reaches inside // the left pocket // expecting a foreign habitat // to find the satin soft //as an infant’s earlobe// She pulls a stick of lipstick// from the pocket// //puckers and dabs her papery lips///with another women’s shade//like the wine stain her husband spilled on the pristine tablecloth //in the greenery of her garden// The maids would be working out // the stains until dawn//She gazes at her image // //wide as a regal estate//There were smells of other women// on his clothes// not dead women // Down the hall// she hears her children laughing// while counting//gold fillings// the brothers keep in a box // // like voodoo talismans //Outside a dog is barking// Behind the woman// the window is gray// the barracks over the wall // expire plumes of smoke // no sirens// utter silence //The woman hangs// up the coat// Closes the door//
Cynthia Atkins (She, Her) is the author of Psyche’s Weathers, In the Event of Full Disclosure, Still-Life With God, and a chapbook from Harbor Editions, 2022. Her work has appeared in many journals, including Alaska Quarterly Review, BOMB, Cider Press Review, Diode, I, LEON Literary Review, Los Angeles Review, North American Review, Permafrost, SWWIM Every Day, and Verse Daily. Atkins lives on the Maury River of Rockbridge County, Virginia. See cynthiaatkins.com.
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11/7 / Poetry Reading with visiting poet-in-residence Vandana Khanna + local writer Nicole Callihan / The Library at The Betsy-South Beach, Miami Beach, FL / Live and Live-Streamed on Instagram Live/Facebook Live at @swwimmiami / 7:00 pm EST / Free
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I remember that chilling part of the film--what a poem, Cynthia. I mean, wow.