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Sample Pages
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River of Glass
Just Published!
River of Glass, An
McGovern's first full-length collection, is 96 pages, published by Tiger
Bark Press, a small press focusing on high-quality poetry.
Heather McHugh, the distinguished
poet, said of Ann’s manuscript: “A straight-faced, unornamented account
of an emotional occasion makes for very moving fictive premises. Your
capacity to leap from one facet to another of the experience is
vivifying.”
For more acclaims, please click on the home page.
Please send your check for 15.95, including $2.00 for postage and
handling to:
Ann McGovern,
30 East 62nd
Street
New York, NY
10065
And please let me know to whom you would like your copy (copies) inscribed.
Here are two poems
from River of Glass:
BETTY-LOU, THEN
We played in the park on 82nd street.
Betty-Lou was in charge.
She anointed herself King.
And appointed me slave.
I had a bad stutter; I never spoke.
She dubbed me her special mute.
I served her well, bowing
and carrying her courtly clothes.
When it came time to hide,
she took the most secret place,
behind the third hedge,
near the rock with the graffiti,
while I had to be easily found
and punished.
I was happy to have a King to worship then,
to stake a place in the world.
I hope Betty-Lou grew up
to have several double chins
and too many children
just like her.
JOB HUNTING
"If you want a safe job, sell shoes."
But danger lies between painted toes.
Catastrophe circles her slim ankles.
She lifts one leg, showing thigh and higher.
"If you want a safe job, be a doorman."
But you wear hot uniforms in summer
freeze in winter when you open doors,
smile at the tenant who tried to get you fired.
"If you want a safe job, fillet fish."
But dull knives cause major mishaps.
You'll smell fishy for days
not to mention mercury and low pay.
"If you want a safe job, clean the graveyard."
But listen. The dead are talking to you.
Dark descends quickly.
Your turn.
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