Since morning I have
had to leave—
I keep telling you
A thirst that
won’t be quenched
the world spits feathers
on dirt floors, plush
carpet—
Soaking up
what blood we eat
& those we kill
the toughest parts
grind teeth to mortar
Susan Tepper is the author of nine published books of fiction and poetry. Her two most recent titles are CONFESS (poetry from Cervena Barva Press, 2020) and a road novel WHAT DRIVES MEN (Wilderness House Press, 2019) that was shortlisted at American Book Fest. Other honors and awards include eighteen Pushcart Prize Nominations, a Pulitzer Nomination by Cervena Barva Press for the novel ‘What May Have Been’ (adapted as an Off-Broadway play to be produced next year), shortlisted in Zoetrope Contest for the Novel (2003), NPR Selected Shorts for ‘Deer’ from American Letters & Commentary (ed. Anna Rabinowitz), Second Place Winner in StorySouth Million Writers Award, Best of 17 Years of Vestal Review and more. Tepper is a native New Yorker. www.susantepper.com
