The Glacier
Issue Two
Winter 2023

Curtsy

after Graham Foust

One ounce
of vegetable
spread.

Snow
pulling
old curtains.

A hearse,
turning
around.

Patriotism

As they approach him
and prepare to eat him
alive he covers himself
in the American flag
as if that will help.

Osceola, Indiana

I eat the needless details of Mishawaka, Indiana.
Elkhart flowers crown my kneecaps with gladness and rust.
No, I do not know Saint Joe River's middle name
but I should. I should know Sakiwasipi and I should know
river specifics to lift me across the water.
To take the berries from the belt. To take the cherries.
Turning the organic farmer’s market over on its side
and guiding the kayaks into the fires.
The field provides enough substance, so please
admire such sundrenched mustaches.
The antiquated language
of the none other remains
of the Potawatomi Zoo. A park
and a zoo. We’ve
wronged the wrong gods. We’ve wronged them, too.
The giving river is forced to see the flee.
New neighbors turning dinner into a swamp.
I’ve eaten it, too. I eat it, too. 
I have a hay fever. Look.

Who’s in Charge Here? Not Anymore You’re Not

after Elaine Equi

The FBI
caught the CIA
sleeping with
the evening DEA’s
armed guards.

Who's in charge
here, is all anyone
could think to say

upon stumbling
into the parade
so okay
they said it over
and over

until the clovers
wilted them dead.

Splits

Five scientists
split open
a frozen rat and
find it full of
old eggs, lizard
eggs, babies
cracking,
hatching
like flies.

BENJAMIN NIESPODZIANY is an Indiana-born, Chicago-based writer whose work has appeared in Fence, Puerto del Sol, BOOTH, Salt Hill, Sixth Finch, Crazyhorse, & elsewhere. A former Olive Garden waiter, his debut collection of poetry was released in late 2022 through Okay Donkey Books and his novella of intertwined stage plays is out now with X-R-A-Y Books. You can find more by Googling neonpajamas.

BACK

ISSUE tWO HOME