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BREACH [five years later]

Breach

[Origin: bef 1000; ME breche, OE broec breaking]

Like a mouth packed shut, the levee wants to open   the act or a result of breaking; break or rupture it desires the water’s fluorescence, the water’s depth, the water’s dirt     an infraction and so the water, no pale lace collar fashioned of delicate mud, no mistress of careful spilling, the water in a storm surge cracks the floodwall apart    gap made in a wall, fortification, line of soldiers sound of a gun shot and shot, sound of a bomb blast    a rift, a fissure, a severance of friendly relations then silence as water erases, as water fills streets and takes everything with it: a hole of 200 feet    the breaking of waves, the dashing of surf later you look on the city map    a violation, as of a law, trust, faith or promise and it will be marked with a small red star like a bitter lipsticked kiss.

NICOLE COOLEY

Breach
Louisiana State University Press

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