from "give 'em hell, iskwew" by Samantha Nock

Poetry sometimes speaks right to your marrow in a way other words don't; it's like music or a fragrance.

These lines are an excerpt from "give 'em hell, iskwew," a poem by Samantha Nock in her collection A Family of Dreamers (thanks always to radiantfracture for introducing me to Samantha Nock's poetry)

in kokum's purse she has the same shade of red
lipstick that mom wears
she applies a heavy layer
and kisses a tissue to blot
places it back into her bag.

red lips left like a fingerprint.

Lori, i think k...