Revision

Like folding a fitted sheet, revision
balks at effort, doesn’t
 
yield to zest and drive. It flaunts its bulky
seams, conspicuous.
 
Following instructions—even more
redundant and pointless:
 
place underneath, tuck corners,
slide your hand,
 
straighten edges. Stashed
on the shelf, it deflates
 
and pouts, hides its ghosts. Wistful
anamorphosis,
 
revision longs for the sparkle
of a magic angle.

Author of the article

Lucia Cherciu is a Professor of English at SUNY / Dutchess in Poughkeepsie, NY, and she writes both in English and in Romanian. She is the author of two books of poetry: Lepãdarea de Limbã (The Abandonment of Language), Editura Vinea 2009, and Altoiul Râsului (Grafted Laughter), Editura Brumar 2010. Her poetry appeared in “Connecticut Review,” “Connotation Press,” “Cortland Review,” “Interdisciplinary Studies in Literature and the Environment,” “Memoir,” “Off the Coast,” “Paterson Literary Review,” “The Prose-Poem Project,” “Spillway,” “Oglinda Literarã,” “Pro Saeculum,” “Salonul Literar,” “Timpul,” “Hyperion,” “Contrapunct,” “Astra,” and elsewhere.