Joel Chace

Probably Just Eustress

To wear this earthly life as
a loosening garment.  Instead, they
tighten, tighten their coil.  Fixing gaze: 
leaf stem.  Lately, that sensation
begins just below her eyes, then moves to
the heart.  Though maybe the
lungs.  Bike pedal’s rust.  Splash of sun on
blue wall.  He argues that his jailers
are kind:  they give him real food.  Since,
anyway, one exists only
in a now that constantly ends and
never exactly arrives. 

Joel Chace has published work in magazines such as Golden Handcuffs Review, New American Writing, Lana Turner, The Brooklyn Rail, and Hurricane Review. His full-length collections include matter no matter, from Paper Kite Press,Humors, from Paloma Press, Threnodies, from Moria Books, fata morgana, from Unlikely Books, and Maths, from Chax Press. Underrated Provinces is just out from Mad Hat Press.