When My Journey Becomes a Pirouette by John Casquarelli

 Do you take the time to listen
             to each drop of a leaking faucet?
 Like tears that contain a multitude 
             of memories and doubts. 
 Maybe the drain is a wormhole
             leading to a galaxy of velvet, silk,
 and cheap cologne, two buttons
             opened on a short-sleeved denim
 shirt that hides growls of thunder
             in my chest and a torrential downpour
 in the stomach. Hunger belongs to 
             all seasons. Let us eat what the forest
 provides, drink from the running brook.
             The dragonfly is the poet’s metaphor, 
 the paintbrush’s stroke on the 
             morning canvas. How I long to fly, 
 yet learn from Icarus’ lesson. 
             When next the stars weep, I will
 greet them with wings extended.
   



Bio:      
John Casquarelli is the author of two full-length collections: 
On Equilibrium of Song (Overpass Books, 2011) and Lavender (Authorspress,  2014). 
He is a Lecturer of Academic Writing at Koç Üniversitesi in  Istanbul, and the 
Managing Editor for Lethe Journal.  His work has  appeared in numerous 
journals and anthologies.     

PEN Norway would like to thank John for his enormous contribution to the project.