Public Enemy: Madness
For my dad I am nearing the age of my grandmother when she descended into madness. When her husband took off and she found herself solo raising three boys—too ill …
Public Enemy: Meth
For my niece, Mariah, and her mother She dug those bugs out of her skin, crawling over her face, her neck, her chest, all the way down to her thighs. …
Public Enemy: MRSA
For Peter Kjolsrud (February 29, 2000-September 16, 2010) and Tovah Kjolsrud, who lost him After the infection ravished his body, I curled myself around him in the hospital bed. I …
What to Expect
The only response to a child’s grave is to lie down before it and play dead. —Bill Knott Black boys getting shot in Harlem—that’s certain, waiting like a germ between …
Volunteer Archive
Originally published by Black Heart Magazine: https://blackheartmagazine.com/2016/01/03/2-poems-by-kristen-hoggatt-abader/ Volunteer ArchiveThe Returned Peace Corps Volunteer Archive, JFK Library, Boston File 20, 1965, Tucsonsends Dan off to Iranwith a farewell parade.Flags alightin the …
Anniversary of My Death
Originally published by JONAH Magazine: https://jonahmagazine.com/tag/kristen-hoggatt-abader/ Anniversary of My Death Revere Beach, Massachusetts Firm to foam to the water lapping Thank you on this beach,to the storm that won’t die,to …
Vocabulary Lessons
Lesson 1—“Stress” “What’s the meaning, haboob,in English?” “Haboob?‘Dust storm.’” “This ‘dust storm’ on your facefor two month.” “Oh, you mean‘pimple.’ “Haboobcan also mean ‘pimple.’” “This ‘bimbel’ in your facefor two month.” …
Girls Watching the World Cup Awaiting Deportation
Two girls rise while the other children—95 and counting—liehuddled on mats, sleeping off the strangeness of El Norte.The World Cup is on: Honduras versus some country in Europe they’ve never …
Damage
for Gabrielle Giffords Of the five beds in the ICUthe only thing movingwas the damaged brain . I was of two brainswasn’t I?One of them was indisposedI rose to the …