Sandra Kolankiewicz‘s poems have appeared widely, most recently in One, Fortnightly Review, Otis Nebulae, Trampset, Concho River Review, London Magazine, New World Writing, and Appalachian Review.

She is a former contributor to The Galway Review.

Communique #13

For we refused to relinquish what we
had always occupied, the space between
transition and success no one knew was
there except those who had fallen in, some
kind of intolerant station where
the names were always changing with all that
dropping down and out.
And why should we have given up what was always ours, walking
away from our metaphorical date
trees and green houses, leave them to those just
behind us? Only the oldest counseled
that we give our cubicles in the best
condition. One day, they said, you will share
the fruit that comes from that tree,
and this man you resent will love your daughter as if
she were his own.
You’ll walk the property line together and maintain your fences,
confine just the cattle in your vision.