Louisiana Literature Press is proud to announce the publication of Cindy King’s poetry chapbook, Lesser Birds of Paradise.
The chapbook is currently available for purchase through our press store (Please remember to specify title and author when submitting payment via PayPal.). The book will also be listed on Amazon.com in the near future.
From Lesser Birds of Paradise
Corpus
When you finish burning, what’s left
sends a black thread of smoke
through fresh ash like a hand
waving the last of us away.
You didn’t ask to return;
if you did, God never answered,
passing your request to some minor deity,
some lesser bird of paradise.
Nonetheless, you’re here,
your body the shape of a milk snake,
whale shark, dust devil—
something that only looks dangerous.
Alive, we knew you as a closed door,
the sound of crushed gravel, a truck
backing down the drive. For how long
did I mistake you for night,
a dog’s bark, an owl?
Now, we’ve packed up cold cuts,
hung dress clothes, and didn’t sing.
We drink whisky in the backyard,
though we’d rather sleep.
But still, here you are, failed storm,
waterspout, empty threat that’s not quite done with us.
About Our Author
Cindy King’s most recent publications include poems in The Sun ,
Callaloo , North American Review , Prairie Schooner , Gettysburg Review ,
Cincinnati Review , and elsewhere. You can hear her online on
American Weekend and The Slowdown , productions of National Public
Radio. She is the author of a chapbook, Easy Street (Dancing Girl
Press, 2021) and Zoonotic (forthcoming from Tinderbox Editions).
She currently lives in Utah, where she is an assistant professor of
creative writing at Dixie State University and editor of The Southern Quill.