*
Rachel Kushner writes poems, children’s books, and research papers. The research papers and briefs focus on Boston’s public pre-K programming. The poems and children’s books are sick of hiding. She works for the Boston Public Schools Department of Early Childhood as a data analyst and research coordinator. Rachel lives in Union Square with her six housemates in an unofficial co-op. She really likes jumping on her mini trampoline.

But Hope—

Rachel Kushner

that ill-flighted,
heaven-bound bird—
she is born,
feet first
breech, in Lenten rose
and run-on sentences.
She is corrected by March
and red Bic pens,
crops up again,
and close to every ending.
Like Solomon’s songs, sending
wended in cotton anglaise
set for the picnic waiting game
she’ll play
she’ll brass band
she’ll fiddle strike
the body of a hot skillet
wet and fight
a bruised and banter
roundabout
she is an army
she is a shout
she is a stain
they can’t get out.

— Rachel Kushner

To have your work considered for the Lyrical send it to:
Doug Holder, 25 School St.; Somerville, MA 02143
dougholder@post.harvard.edu