Alison Spaude
When the Tom
strode over, nuzzling under the dried corn husks,
and the gun was fully loaded
Amen!, that is how it happens.
He is as fresh
as the Americas in 1942, he is as holy
as my savior.
I close the oven
and continue my chores, thinking
about death: my power
to take it freely,
and someday I will join him. Yet now,
the bird cooks, which my
palate has always preferred-
there is a time to be thankful.
I say to the bird: someday
it will be me.
It is the choices we do not make.
It is what gave me fingers to shoot the gun-
with confidence and intent, knowing
I would live another day.
Alison Spaude is a junior at Northland College, in Ashland Wisconsin. When not studying, she likes to spend her time sea kayaking in the Apostle Islands and hiking in the Chequamegon National Forest.