Sunday, April 24, 2011

Shane McCrae

HOW TO RECOGNIZE IT


Master I learned from     more than anybody him

what love is how / To recognize it love

That’s how I knew I was right to cut Mary’s throat



Thinking of what he     did to me my

body what I knew he would

Do to Mary     to Priscilla cut     / Didn’t just cut



and leave her body move

On to her sister     made     sure she was dead

I loved her     wanted her / Head to come off in my hands




Shane McCrae is the author of Mule (Cleveland State University Poetry Center, 2011), and two chapbooks, One Neither One (Octopus Books, 2009) and In Canaan (Rescue Press, 2010). His work has appeared, or is forthcoming, in The Best American Poetry 2010FenceAgniDenver QuarterlyTypo, and others.