Marcia LeBeau
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Many times I start a poem in the prose form and then end up creating line and stanza breaks later on, or vice versa. This particular poem was a different story. “Directions” was created from an exercise I was given at a writer’s retreat in Cape May. We were to use random postcards as inspiration to write a poem inside a square printed on a piece of lined paper. I interpreted the square as a vessel for prose. I don’t remember the postcards, but I do remember the fire alarm ringing as I wrote the poem.
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Directions
Plant your feet on the ground. Put your hands on your knees. And whatever you do, don’t try to explain this to anyone. (Not yet, at least.) When you are finished, open your eyes to an egg-white sky. You will have glistening skin and silk banners will line your mouth. Everyone will be talking too fast, making the banners bellow. You must take down the banners and fold them in quarters. Soon everyone’s voice will return to normal. Except a young boy in Canton, Ohio who will ask you over and over why you’re there. Either you’ll answer him or pull the fire alarm. This will be the hardest decision you’ll ever have to make.
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Marcia LeBeau lives in Brooklyn, NY and Austin, TX. Her poems have appeared or are forthcoming in O, The Oprah Magazine, Rattle, Handsome and U.S. 1 Worksheets. She was named “Most Outstanding Writing Coach” by New York Scores, an after-school literacy program and is a graduate of Vermont College’s MFA in Writing program. website: marcialebeau.com