Now that You’ve Moved to Town

Michelle Peñaloza

Don’t let me forget   I say often and repeatedly

remind me        to feed the beta        call my mother

return the defective three hole punch

get my car my eyes my wrist                checked out

Don’t let me forget           I say again and again

you are my sieve            volunteered by me

to catch the hummingbirds’ tongues

             the discs of fish scales

the tiny florets of dense vegetation

                                  I’ve forgotten their names

yours I remember                I keep those in my pocket

even dresses have pockets

              I can never forget your name

because now that you are here I can

       keep

       giving you new ones       koala

swoon                            chestnut breath

              my spring moon

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