| Under No Circumstances Sometimes, traversing the eyes of storms, it's like you've resurfaced, the weight of you an indent on my consciousness; occasionally your doppelgänger hovers mournfully over seawalls, glistening wet. There were those incidents last July off Catalina, headline news in fifty states-- only you could have engineered something so ingenious. Nobody else discerned your phantom's throaty laughter floating up like red herrings, outlines of your fingernails looming black as submarines. Under no circumstances shall I divulge this secret, yet as your husband snorkels closer to the truth, I imagine us in watery limbo together, our tongues slit. ©Ashley Callender 2007 |
| Teacher Sacrificing her ambition to cold scrutiny she'd let him in--scared at first of mothering aches cuffed to his convictions, of loving her. Chalk marks trailed along the road less travelled, mileposts only he could read. Ravens gathered quickly as the pair took flight. Doctored confessions assumed too late the parents' point of view; withering looks unsexed the felon in their midst, a chronic fellatrix with laughter budding in her womb. Wolf whistles from the public gallery reminded her of youth, an early marriage to a sheepish husband. Squaring her jaw, she declined him tears even now. The boy looked proud. ©Ashley Callender 2007 |
| Snakes and Ladders This morning, I watched clouds eclipse the sun. Their transit was brief as they radiated heat beyond the shadows; simpler times marked by vapour trails; nothing more. From my office window the chairmen watched too, interpreting gruff ironies of competitive significance, this last day of the financial year, heaven sent. Then we laughed, got down to business. The terms of your contract came up. As you are aware our company provides no reference, nor are we bound by any arbitration clause. However, your punctiliousness was always a pleasure and of course, if there's anything more I can do. ©Ashley Callender 2007 |