PaloVerde The Arizona State University West Literary Magazine

Nicole Yackell's poem "Days Drift By" also appears in this issue of PaloVerde.

life known,
	secured, fastened, & docked,
		true & plotted–
turned inside out,
	bearings gone–
	whisked away
upon blades spinning,
	blades carving the celestial sphere

air disturbed,
	ash rising to the vapors
life altered & concealed

song of bird, uniform of tan
tumultuous journey
	of 4x7

catharsis does not come easily
	bits of bone, rattling in my closet
		the coins rattling in my purse
			cannot afford the price
	the voices in my veins
			cannot break through the skin

step forward now–
	step unaided. . .
collective stepping
approach life,
	known.

	PaloVerde The Arizona State University West Literary Magazine	May, 2002 Volume 10, Number 1
	Poetry