Featured Poem: “Colony High School”

Paula Yup currently lives in Spokane, Washington. She has poems published in California Quarterly, J Journal, Off the Coast, Saranac Review, Poiesis, Trajectory, and Exit 13.

COLONY HIGH SCHOOL

has a craft fair

and I accompany

my sister-in-law

roam from room to room

soaps lotions perfumes lip balm

balls of hand-dyed yarn

Christmas tree ornaments

kids selling popcorn

for some benefit

clothing of all kinds

foodstuffs

jams jellies

sausages made from reindeer

baby clothes

caps mittens socks

a children’s publishing company

book display

metal designs

different kinds of whirlygigs

although the skier discontinued

the legs would break

 

My sister-in-law converses

with the crafts people

going from one stall to the next

the reindeer sausage lady

says that her daughter’s restaurant

struggles along

business bad all around

my sister-in-law says her mother loves

to eat at that restaurant

 

and I look on at the scene

like shaking a snow globe

 

Paula Yup currently lives in Spokane, Washington. She has poems published in California Quarterly, J Journal, Off the Coast, Saranac Review, Poiesis, Trajectory, and Exit 13.