the 
resignation

Wholesaler 
of
 my
 blindfold 
/
 Rubber
 curtain

My
 snout
 brimming 
with 
river

Through
 the 
exorcism
 of 
these
 sheets

Through 
submersion 
of 
these 
sheets 
in 
rabbits 
blood

Sopped 
and 
strangled 
bleach 
/ 
Antiseptic 
/ 
Goats
milk

Resigned 
myself 
to 
the 
animation 
of 
my 
sheets

A 
ghost 
does 
not 
understand 
what 
is 
not 
his 
uniform

For 
the 
ferns 
I 
ignited 
and 
shook

For 
the 
wreath 
of 
garlic 
slung
 like 
a 
gorilla 
around 
my 
neck

Through 
the 
eternal 
drool 
of 
this 
nest 
/ 
This 
basket

Of 
seagrass 
/ 
This 
craft

Turning 
over 
/ 
Swigging
 the 
icy 
muck

May 
you 
discharge 
your 
dirty 
water

May 
your 
ghost 
find 
his 
path 
to 
salvation

Bumping 
into 
every 
frail 
vase 
and 
urn

Headfirst
 into 
any 
metal
 prong 
or 
pan

With 
likelihood 
of 
clattering

You 
will 
not
 be 
steered
 or
 dented

By
 the
 broom 
I
 pummel 
you 
with

And
 I 
absolve
 you
 from
 my
 premature 
baldness

In 
the
 fashion 
of 
my
 father’s
 ski
 mask

In
 the 
fashion
 of 
my 
father’s
 pentimento

In 
my 
father’s 
bath
 of
 choked
 lice
 /
 Of
 turpentine
 
 
 

Kiik Araki-Kawaguchi studied poetics at Santa Clara University and UC Davis. She is a current graduate student of creative writing at UC San Diego. Her work has appeared or is forthcoming in journals such as iO, Washington Square, The Brooklyner, Alligator Juniper, CutBank, Alice Blue Review, and The Masters Review.