Cracked
Near the end of the lawsuit, I fell for him
when I hated every lawyer, even my own.
Christopher, public defender, who doesn’t
believe in god or religion or astrology or fate,
but collects Buddha heads, prayer beads,
lived in a commune in his 20s, reads Rumi,
Mary Oliver, loves Sexton. Stuck a magnetic
peace sign on the bumper of my car. Memorized
all the words to “Hallelujah.” Crooned them
to me over dinner. Believes in justice. How could
you stand it [the toxic legal wrestling pit]? Gentle
smile, says, everyone deserves representation. Case
after case, decades of finesse, respect; cracked
the enamel on his back teeth while he slept.
*
Susan Vespoli is a poet from Phoenix, AZ who believes in the power of writing to stay sane. Her poems have appeared in ONE ART, Anti-Heroin Chic, New Verse News, Rattle, Gyroscope Review, and other cool spots. She is the author of four poetry collections. Susan Vespoli – Author, Poet
From The Archives: Published on This Day
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- The Inheritance by Robbi Nester (2023)
- Three Poems by Meg Freer (2022)
- Two poems by Nicole Caruso Garcia (2021)
Great poem! I’ve known dedicated public defenders, but never thought of writing a poem about one. Bravo!
Great poem. I love all of Vespoli’s work. A fine voice in the plethora of poetic voices.
❤️❤️❤️
A lot to love – about the man and the poem. Buy that man a night guard! I, too, clamp down.
I love all the cracking sounds within this sonnet. I am loving this guy, and then the final couplet melts my heart.thank you, susan!
I love this poem so much. I heard it in the “Therefore ,Illuminated ” reading, and wanted to hear it again. To savor its sweet opening, love forever poised – now leaking back in through whatever cracks the living makes.