Monday, October 18, 2021

The Last Four Words of each paragraph of Desire by Esther Freud in The New Yorker, Sept. 27, 2021 - because I impatiently want to read

 cloud of his breath

said yanking herself free

train along her arm

wasn't our stepfather anymore

small without his work

you all my pets

what I mustn't say

know what to say

put on the kettle

to take us in

to the time before

kissing once took place

way and hurried uphill

sheep into a field

were to afford it

when she turned back

my grandparents to retire

he heaved himself up

his chest so bad

defensive for the taste

a small gray pile

one on to grill

mum's eyes flashed fierce

hovered above her chair

looked like his father

spoon against her bowl

I sometimes privately did

setting off for bantry

lipstick on her teeth

back before you know

off along the road

soaking up the wet

and they drove on

pushed open the door

swung over her face

and slid him in

attention to the driver

willy fattened and unfurled

I need to go

hot against the ground

shaking out the drops

I tugged them up

waiting on the road

tightened on the wheel

sloshed across the yard

petula our mother waved

born the day before

examine our new brother

settled down to sleep

angry interspersed with wails

back it's a bloodbath

rigid in my arms

the puppies are dead

hands over his ears

in and killed them

make an early start

my teeth were chattering

and they know it

mother is too young

should be kept apart

gathered up our things

packet in her bag

even bea was cheerful

at the bantry inn

of whom was xavier

him not for days

wife god help him

find him if we

key on the bar

waves churning against rocks

salmon on a plate

enough to sleep on

island the lowering sky

she turned around startled

see her beauty dissolved

the sharp black stones

whisked oil for mayonnaise

sex pistols no clash

she beat the egg

into xavier's daughter's bed

to god he wasn't

catch up with her

heard of the beatles

stared at him affronted

together at his heart

when he was gone

side of the road

favorite he'd be hurt

full we squeezed in

drink into his hand

the bar was xavier

a whiskey for himself

hitched up pleasuring herself

flat and far away

I was peeling prawns

say it you didn't

up to the bungalow

to let it go

this minute missed him

a nice low rent

him it was grandpa

waited for the row

while you're still young

back in his chair

we'd be taken away

too far from college

that something she exclaimed

to come his way

nana by both arms

tears blurred he face

you'll wear yourself out

is she to manage

the crack in it

a row of seats

into her new life

to make a pillow

pounding through the waves




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