The Sunday Poem No 50: Ian Duhig ; Every Week Ruth Padel Discusses a Contemporary Poet through an Example of Their Work

Padel, Ruth, The Independent (London, England)

American Graffiti

I. Women's Room

I open for you my mouth. I open for you

My two eyes, the white chambers of my skull;

From my old tongue, your sentences will rise

For I am Goddess Tlaelquani, Eater of Excrement,

Sister of Tlazolteotl. Problems with your partner?

I cut off his eggs with my obsidian glass knife.

Perhaps your employer is harassing you?

I gut him and stuff the corpse with chocolate.

Maybe a cab-driver has over-charged you?

I sacrifice his first-born to the Plumed Serpent.

See? I've a knack for this sort of thing

And you worship me just by sitting here, …

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Publication information: Article title: The Sunday Poem No 50: Ian Duhig ; Every Week Ruth Padel Discusses a Contemporary Poet through an Example of Their Work. Contributors: Padel, Ruth - Author. Newspaper title: The Independent (London, England). Publication date: December 19, 1999. Page number: 13. © 2009 The Independent - London. Provided by ProQuest LLC. All Rights Reserved.

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