Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

Jerry Pinto

Alphabet Soup

Alphabet Soup

Alphabet Soup

A is alone
And afraid of responsibility.

X marks the spot.
Failure lies buried here.
X is a stranger,
Sand-pitted from the winds
That blew outside Khwarizmi’s tent.

Y is dangerous, a cleft stick.
Y can hurt
Smudges of down and wing
And the things we do.

i
is that a halo? Or a birthmark?

Q after Q after q after q, after, after,

If B is pregnant with meaning,
R has given birth
to a Snake.
Close

Alphabet Soup

A is alone
And afraid of responsibility.

X marks the spot.
Failure lies buried here.
X is a stranger,
Sand-pitted from the winds
That blew outside Khwarizmi’s tent.

Y is dangerous, a cleft stick.
Y can hurt
Smudges of down and wing
And the things we do.

i
is that a halo? Or a birthmark?

Q after Q after q after q, after, after,

If B is pregnant with meaning,
R has given birth
to a Snake.

Alphabet Soup

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