Tag: Miriam Manglani

Making Sushi by Miriam Manglani

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Making Sushi

You are my bed of sticky rice,
the one I’ve pressed into a sheet of ocean.
Pieces of you cling to me—
even those I would rather live without.

I lay my vulnerable parts on you,
my avocado flesh,
the fish that swim in me.

My firm, earthy parts—
slivers of carrot standing tall and sure,
spiny slices of red pepper
with their curly tops shorn,
stand at attention like soldiers,
yield loud, bold crunches.

I roll myself up in you tightly,
the way we spoon together
in bed with sheets of dreams.

Cut us into small, neat pieces
we pick up with wooden sticks,
dip in our essence—salty-sweet sauce.

We savor bites,
with wide eyes,
wrapped up in each other.

*

Miriam Manglani lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts with her husband and three children. She graduated with a degree in English from Brandeis University and works full-time as a Technical Training Manager. She is the author of the poetry book Invisible Lines published by Kelsay Books and the poetry chapbook Ordinary Wonders published by Prolific Press. Her poems have been published in various magazines and journals including Sparks of Calliope, ONE ART, Glacial Hills Review, and Paterson Literary Review. Read her published work on her website: miriammanglani.com

The Depression by Miriam Manglani

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The Depression

When I visited your grave this year,
fifteen years after your death,
I noticed the ground had sunk,
the length of the depression
about the length of your coffin.

Your burial had entered
an advanced state of decomposition.

Your coffin had disintegrated.

Below me, only dirt surrounded your bones.
The air your body had in its former wooden home—gone.

I stood in the depression.
My footing wobbly.
My roots—decayed.

*

Miriam Manglani lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts with her husband and three children. She works full-time as a Technical Training Manager. Her poems have been published in various magazines and journals, including Sparks of Calliope, Red Eft Review, One Art, Glacial Hills Review, and Paterson Literary Review. Her poetry chapbook, Ordinary Wonders, was published by Prolific Press.

First Letter Home From Camp by Miriam Manglani

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First Letter Home From Camp

After two long weeks,
his first letter finally arrives.

I wrap my hands around it.
Paper he touched
with his tiny warm hands.
Envelop he sealed shut.

Anticipation mocks as I tear it open
to read a note
in his 9-year-old attempt at handwriting.
Just one sentence.
“I must tell you my fan broke.”

*

Miriam Manglani lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts with her husband and three children. She works full-time as a Sr. Technical Training Manager. Her poems have been been published in various magazines and journals including Rushing Thru the Dark, Cerasus Magazine, Sparks of Calliope, Canyon Voices, and the Paterson Review. Most recently, her poetry chapbook “Ordinary Wonders” was published by Prolific Press.