ISSUE TWO: "On the Second Night of Chanukah" by Risa Denenberg

On the Second Night of Chanukah

my Mama
mother’s I
birthday know

&
I
my can
father’s add
yahrzeit nothing

I’ve &
kindled nothing
two will
thin be
candles
God

with I
a must
third tell
you
I
pretend I
to don’t
feel believe
fondness in

but Mama
it’s
blasphemy Daddy

I I
don’t tell
believe you
in nothing

Rituals God

only only
duty duty

Risa Denenberg

Risa Denenberg lives on the Olympic peninsula in Washington state where she works as a nurse practitioner. She is a co-founder of Headmistress Press; curator at The Poetry Café Online; and the Reviews Editor at River Mouth Review. Her most recent publications include the full-length poetry collection, slight faith (MoonPath Press, 2018) and the chapbook, Posthuman, finalist in the Floating Bridge 2020 chapbook competition. A new collection, Rain Dweller is forthcoming from MoonPath Press in 2023.

Photo Credit: Staff