Magical Thinking

John Lennon’s piano

 

Here’s a poem from my book  Vexed Questions:

Magical Thinking

 

Umbrella to ward off the rain,

pajamas worn backwards for good luck,

the sign of the cross before the foul shot.

Ignore the blood and it will go away.

Bury the statue of Saint Joseph

in the yard of the house you want to sell, or, at least,

place his statue on the windowsill facing out.

 

The Law of Contagion:

white gloves from my mother’s top drawer

still play the scales of her skin,

hold my hand

when I pull them on.

 

John Lennon’s piano

remembers him, and

plays “Imagine”

all by itself.