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      December 26, 2011Stevie EdwardsWhat I Mean by Ruin Is…

      When there’s only condiments left in the fridge
      and you join a free online dating service
      so men will buy you dinner.

      When you’ve shucked the night with the dull blade
      of indecision and gulped down everything,
      even the pearls.

      When some old, left-handed love has left
      your guitar strung backwards
      and you can’t find any songs
      for rain in its frets.

      When you wake up next to the body
      of your past and it looks ready
      to wrinkle and bald.

      When the last burn of summer is peeling
      from your breasts and there’s nothing to husk
      the pale, raw of new flesh.

      When the woman who wears her hair
      in the old way quits mumbling about Jesus
      on the street corner and takes her salvation
      pamphlets to a pauper’s grave.

      When you’re too ugly to pray,
      but pray
                      and the only voice
      on the drunk subway wails
                                      good grief.

      from #35 - Summer 2011