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Frame of Mind
by Chella Courington
estimated
reading time

1:00
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Eyes get old before the body. Australian researchers are trying to solve the problem. Eyes have the upper hand though attached to the body’s shoulder. They know the history they bring to every syllable heard or spoken, in simple present or present continuous. From time to time the eyes freeze in the subjunctive: If I could tell you whether he kissed Marie Onji behind the louvered doors. If I should bar intimate knowledge or keep it like a matchbook from Spago. Spago, he says, with the sweetest grin as if he’s always in the present, certainly with you. You who would prefer the present perfect and panic in a Hall of Mirrors, twirling faster and faster to blur the split.



Chella Courington teaches at Santa Barbara City College. Her recent poetry appears or is forthcoming in The Gargoyle, The Griffin, Iguana Review, Prism Review and Mademoiselle’s Fingertips. Her third chapbook, Paper Covers Rock, was first runner-up in the Qarrtsiluni Chapbook Competition 2009: http://qarrtsiluni.com
   
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Lori Romero 5.24.2010
Wonderful work, Chella!
 
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