Richard Gilbert & Jennifer Hambrick
Self Care
This time I might have to. Bad idea partner. The end is closer anyhow. I can’t let you go down that road. These pointless conversations. I’m listening. Alright, at least you’re not persecutory. You mean you’re not paranoid-psychotic. Right, I suppose. As if that mattered. Look, everybody talks to themself. Arrived from elsewhere, you’re no mirror. So this is what, company? A learning experience? If there’s self, world, imagination, something else. Like snakeskin the not-me, not-you. I see. You have trouble saying I or we. I don’t use pronouns, yeah. I don’t eat or sleep, just appear, disappear: am or am not. I only sleep. This is like a dream. It cuts both ways.
desilvering
the looking glass
copperheads
About the Authors
Richard Gilbert is at times a professor of American literature, poet, audio engineer, musician, meditator, and sailor. In 2019, he founded the Heliosparrow Poetry Journal and the Haiku Sanctuary. His most recent book is Poetry as Consciousness (Keibunsha Press 2018). Several recent essays and translations are available in the Haiku Foundation’s archives. His academic CV is available here.
Jennifer Hambrick is the author of the poetry collection In the High Weeds (NFSPS Press), winner of the Stevens Prize; the haibun collection Joyride (Red Moon Press), winner of the 2022 Marianne Bluger Book Award; and Unscathed (NightBallet Press). A classical musician, public radio broadcaster, multimedia producer, and cultural journalist, she lives in Columbus, Ohio. jenniferhambrick.com.