Pictures

Her colossal enthusiasm

receding.

Her determination

stripped.

Her gentle exchange

stopped.

The pictures

cut like a pocket

knife. Grandmother

and the baby’s bed.

 How the steamer’s ladders

creaked and shuddered,

going to Paris, Italy… windows

open. Enclosed in coffee, liquor,

oranges and luxury.

(Note: This text of this poem is taken from Upton Sinclair’s novel, Dragon’s Teeth. It was created as part of National Poetry Month/Found Poetry Review’s Pulitzer Remix project. The words are Mr. Sinclair's, but their order is my own)

Josh Medsker is a New Jersey-based writer, originally from Alaska. His work has appeared in many publications, including: The Brooklyn Rail, OVS, The Review Review, Penmen Review, The Anchorage Press, Criminal Class Review, Haiku Journal, Everest, We'll Never Have Paris Greatest Hits, and The Zinesters' Guide To NYC. Since 2001, he has published the literary magazine Twenty-Four Hours (www.twentyfourhoursonline.org)