Taneya Lovelace, Untitled II, 2009. Watercolor. Image courtesy of the artist and Creativity Explored©Creativity Explored Licensing, LLC.

Taneya Lovelace, Untitled II, 2009. Watercolor. Image courtesy of the artist and Creativity Explored©Creativity Explored Licensing, LLC.

 

You call me a parrot,

by Sarah Corney

 

________________________blasphemous and blurting
epithets out of context, eager to please.

I can’t help that I learn what I hear—
when you spill your tea and yell out Madonna!

I too say Madonna! loudly, for weeks,
forgetting the keys, burning the toast.

And when you tilt your head and smile cazzo ridi sempre?
I sing it back, laughing harder—the cresting pitch

and cascade beg a melody missing in
what the hell are you always laughing at?

Not to mention the chance to use the letter z
in casual conversation, exhilarating in itself.

I know my vowels are out of control—I’m a walking
caricature, taking my r’s and running them like

a jolting motor, a trilling soprano. Believe me—
when I use che bello four times in a conversation

it’s not because I mean what I say. It’s the same reason
I never correct your gerunds, the fearless way you say

you are going sleeping, and then don’t, eyes open
in perfect black, one finger ringing my lips,

your voice now echoing mine: done and dawn—
that soft difference lying in our mouths.

Published June 21st, 2020

Sarah Corney is an American poet currently living and teaching in Bordeaux, France. She received her BA from the University of Virginia, where she was a member of the Area Program in Poetry Writing, and recently completed her MFA in Creative Writing with Boston University. Her poetry has been published in whurk magazine and the Virginia Literary Review.

Taneya Lovelace is an artist from San Francisco. Her work has been exhibited by Creativity Explored since 1998. More of Taneya’s work can be viewed here.
Creativity Explored works with artists who have developmental disabilities, providing a studio, mentoring program, and wider community of support. They believe that “art is a captivating means of challenging and transforming assumptions about disability. The beauty, depth and humor of the work provokes fresh perspectives and fosters new regard for the personal vision and artistic ability of artists with developmental disabilities.” Their next exhibit is titled: The park “a darling walk for the mind” and can be viewed online starting June 25th.