ROC, NY and Other Poems

By Isabella Dunsby

ROC, NY

and so the ducks glide 
in the direction of 
The Mushroom House. There’s a 
Man living there who 
picks them up by their bellies 
and kisses ‘em as they wander by. 
The Man visits a fish hatchery
on days he thinks of his children 
in the city, watching 
speckled brown trout mingle through
the bustling cement alleyways 
as if they have 
somewhere to go. The Man there 
strolls the farmers market on Sundays and 
picks Braeburn apples for the 
backyard deer
and the deer don’t thank him for it. 

I sit in this church

and Pastor says, 
peter walked on water and water
was wine and wine was 
blood. and I say Amen. 
and I sing in a wispy falsetto,
I’ll worship Your holy name in 
this sanctuary, damp with 
this lachrymose crowd of sagging
heads and arms stretched 
in faith and longing. Pastor 
says, we are nothing 
but a pebble before His mighty feet,
I say surely, wishing the contrary, but it
makes ‘em weep like the mirror 
when I soak my body 
too long. then I picture the hands 
and feet nailed
to the cross 
I’m supposed to die on
since I ask myself over 
and over and over again is, 
              Who's listening? 

6:56:46, Yeonhui-Dong

you walk at an angle but you won’t let me 
pull the left backpack strap 

onto your shoulder, you let it hang. 

you move swiftly along the pavement, every few steps 
tilting your head 

to see if I’m still beside you. I am, 

still searching for something to say,   
but there’s too much noise what with 

the whiff of traffic cacophony we pass and your 

unsettling attempts at breath. i can see the sunset
that’s behind the seoul city skyline 

turn red and orange as if preparing for winter. i consider saying 
this to you but can’t find a moment in 

between your muted sobs. and so we walk,

	to nowhere in particular, and for what reason I 
don’t know either, except that 

you went from hysteria two blocks ago to this
	and that’s enough 

to keep us going. 

Isabella Dunsby is an enthusiastic student attending an international school in Seoul, South Korea, where she is nurturing her newfound passion for literature. She has a profound love for poetry, jazz music, and taking long walks with her loyal companion, Lily. Her recent foray into the literary world has ignited a spark within her, and she is excited to see where her newfound passion will lead her in the future.