The Ekphrastic Review
  • The Ekphrastic Review
  • The Ekphrastic Challenges
    • Challenge Archives
  • Ebooks
  • Prizes
  • Book Shelf
    • Ekphrastic Book Shelf
    • Contributors' Book Shelf
    • TERcets Podcast
  • Workshops
  • Give
  • Submit
  • Contact
  • About/Masthead

​A Kanji Trilogy, by Mark Russo

4/4/2022

2 Comments

 
Picture

​Onna
 
Alone, back upright, cross-legged I sit in front of a blackboard and look into my future.

I just recently learned to cross my legs. 

As a child, in white blouse and blue pleated skirt, I sat, knees together. 

As a young woman, in a loose white cotton gown opened at the back, I first learned to spread my legs, just a bit, for my health, the Doctor said. 

As a lover, my warm skin basted with sweat, I extended my legs and moaned in sync with the spasms of my thighs. 

As a wife, hands mined a life from my vault and I cursed my husband. Never again, I thought and threw out my calico dresses. 

Today, I enter this classroom, sit and begin to follow the white signs on the blackboard that will lead to my future. 
​
I sit alone, legs crossed, back upright like a raised nail and dare anyone to hammer me down.
Picture

​Tou 
 
Notice the horizontal divisions between upper and lower eyelids? Bedroom eyes. They filter the invading light armed with crude images, sound and colour.
​
Notice the mouth, opened in awe that, like a sluice, discharges unprocessed images, like slag from a smelting pot, still struggling to solidify into some recognizable pattern.


Picture

Kawa 
 
Two parallel currents, finite in scope, rush adamantly upward. A third enters from below and changes course to align itself parallel to the other two. Whether forced to conform to the existing flow or consciously redirecting itself to mimic its partners, the result is the same: the channel has broadened.

Mark Russo

Mark Russo, born January 1, 1950 in Queens, New York City, New York. As a student of the University of Cincinnati he focused on the Greek, Latin, German, and French languages and World Literature. After running the family business for 20 years, he graduated from the University of Maine School of Law and was accepted to the Bar in 2002. He practiced Immigration Law in the State of Maine for over 18 years. He has published stories with Flash Fiction Magazine, New Reader Magazine, 34th Parallel Magazine, Knot Magazine, Literally Stories and Potato Soup Journal.
2 Comments
Julie Allyn Johnson
4/4/2022 10:45:17 am

Fabulous. Creative. Intriguing.

Poetry I wish I was able to write. Love them all!

Reply
David Belcher
4/6/2022 07:10:46 am

I am very impressed by your inventiveness here.

Reply

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    The Ekphrastic Review
    Picture
    Current Prompt
    COOKIES/PRIVACY
    This site uses cookies to deliver your best navigation experience this time and next. Continuing here means you consent to cookies. Thank you.
    Join us on Facebook:
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture



    ​
    ​Archives
    ​

    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015

    Lorette C. Luzajic theekphrasticreview@gmail.com 

  • The Ekphrastic Review
  • The Ekphrastic Challenges
    • Challenge Archives
  • Ebooks
  • Prizes
  • Book Shelf
    • Ekphrastic Book Shelf
    • Contributors' Book Shelf
    • TERcets Podcast
  • Workshops
  • Give
  • Submit
  • Contact
  • About/Masthead