Search Results for: rotella

Alexis Rotella A Weekend Bus Trip with the Girls She had to go to Montreal even though I knew before I knew he’d get soused and beat my brother and me the way his father beat him. Mom is gone only a little while before he gets the urge to toss my brother across the room … Read more

Alexis Rotella Feeding the Birds My neighbor saysoh, your gate is painted greenand you got your windows washed what else is going on over there,what else are you guys having done? A package appears on the front steps.He texts me as he always does.He really ought to text mewhen there’s not a package on the … Read more

Alexis Rotella Ice Cold Morning in March The copper casket just fits insidethe rectangle of earth hollowed outjust for her. A crane lifts a slab of concrete, lowersit. My mother’s lungs were alwaystender. I used to tell her, wear a scarf,cover your chest, button your coatall the way up. Exhaling a plume of smoke gravedigger … Read more

Alexis Rotella Blackbird Pie Right before dusk, the codger walks outof the berry-field woods. Covered in coaldust, only the whites of his eyes show. My best friend says not to go near himeven if he offers candy. He’s the bogey manand he eats children for breakfast alongwith his scrambled eggs. plump like grandma the tooth … Read more

Alexis Rotella Night Stranger I’ll never forget him, the man who came into my room to nibble my toes while I slept. Sometimes he placed my feet between two slices of Wonder bread. I never saw his face. In a white pinaforeI stand at the footof my parent’s bedchanting prayersspeaking in tongues About the Author … Read more

Alexis Rotella The Sea Remembers Get ready. The boat leaves in an hour. I don’t feel like it. We’ve been talking about going on this whale watch for months. My husband’s bicep starts to throb, so intensely I watch  from across the room. Something inside wants to get out. What’s going on? I don’t know. … Read more