It’s Supposed to Look Random

My fetus likes three Fire sauce packets, flips for the AC of Raul’s voice.
Raul! Who never spoke in class, now tells me,
To place tulips, toss them over the bed and dig where they land.
The shot might do nothing, meaning I order a number three.

Raul, who never spoke in class, now tells me,
You almost missed me, ma’am – I’m going on vacation to Miami. Next week,
the shot might do nothing, meaning I’ll order a number three.
We teach it manner, place, time. He takes whatever name I give.

You almost missed me, ma’am! I’m going on vacation to Miami next week.
I drive through Taco Bell every Friday after my intramuscular.
We inject it: manner, place, time. He takes whatever name I give
as it spills out the pass through. No one is ours to keep.

I drive through Taco Bell every Friday after my intramuscular.
Raul doesn’t ask why I am out of class, only crunches ice
as he spills out the pass through. No, one is ours to keep
for as long as I can hold it, though you can’t teach me how.

Raul doesn’t ask why I am out of class, only crushes ice
for the welt against my leg. There is a paper cup
for as long as I can hold it, though you can’t teach me how
to keep the seam from melting. It’s supposed to look random.

For the welt against my leg there is a paper cup.
An embryonic flower needs weeks of cold
to keep the bloom from melting. It’s supposed to look random.
It is a delicate business, forcing bulbs.

An embryonic flower needs weeks of cold.
To place tulips, toss them over the bed and dig where they land.
It is a delicate business, forcing bulbs.
My fetus likes three Fire sauce packets, flips for the AC of Raul’s voice.

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Claire Gallagher lives in Chișinău, Moldova with her family.