For awry
For aslope
For askew
For shaped into a crook
For throwing an awkward elbow
For the handles of jugs
and impertinent teapots
For sharp-pointed
For bow-bent
For the etymology of battle
(in common use)
From Old Norse to Middle English
as applied to spear, spike,
dagger, goad, hook, anchor,
axe, knife, sword—
Let us assign such a context
to the weed of a kitten
seeded in a car engine
After the flowering of pistons
and spark plugs
After the pluck of crankshaft
Not a wound
but a weapon
Not an amputation
but an argument
A stiffened extension
of spine canted at an angle
also meaning bold
Published in Cider Press Review, Volume 20, Issue 4.
Jen Karetnick is the author of seven poetry collections, including The Treasures That Prevail (Whitepoint Press, September 2016).She is co-editor of SWWIM Every Day. Find her on Twitter @Kavetchnik. More at jkaretnick.com.
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