Two Poems
Brian Beatty

Canvas

My mistake
has always been
to headfake
too soon.

When I turn &
take it square-
ly on the cheek
the hand is again

familiar & the blood
I spit blossoms:
yet another
painted

carnation.



Hiccups

Practice perfects
next to nothing.

Difficult though
it might be

to swallow
you & I are

sucking the life
out of these horns

we swore
we'd resuscitate.

Hold your breath
& listen.