MICHELLE PEÑALOZA - "Snacks Might Save Us All"

from The Real-World Problems We Face by 90s Meg Ryan

	/

lyrics

– Snacks Might Save Us All –

Your laughter is a painted rock
when you say, “These are the object-moments
of our lives.” And in my head, I’m singing,
Chain, chain, chaaaaaain. Chain of fools,
trying to pay attention to the object-moment
happening right now between us.
The ties that bind are multitudinous—
sequin, dollar chain, dog collar—
and we are all directionally-challenged
movement-artists looking for a space to perform.
The masks we wear—well, we’re right
to be suspicious. But, baked goods
and well-packaged snacks will change
the minds of even the most mistrustful.
Still, we wonder sometimes, looking
askance at each other—Real? Or metaphor?
How will we ever make progress with our ghosts?

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MICHELLE PEÑALOZA grew up in Nashville, Tennessee. Her poetry has appeared most recently in The Asian American Literary Review, TriQuarterly, Oversound, Pinwheel, and INCH. She is the recipient of fellowships and awards from the University of Oregon, Kundiman, Artist Trust, Jack Straw, the Richard Hugo House, and Literary Arts. Her chapbook, landscape / heartbreak, is forthcoming from Two Sylvias Press on Valentine's Day, 2015.
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