Paul Koniecki

Paul Koniecki lives and writes in Dallas, Texas. He was once chosen for the John Ashbery Home School Residency. His poems feature in Richard Bailey’s movie “One of the Rough” distributed by AVIFF Cannes. His books are available from Kleft Jaw Press, NightBallet Press, Dark Particle Press, and Spartan Press.

-for Beirut, Lebanon
the heart’s tide is a wet heave

skeletons are always pale

where a mother’s arms make
a skittish shroud

i want to find you a lie detector
i want to find you a russian captain
i want to find you a leader
made out of winter bones for soup

power of three
make everyone’s eyes a recorder

a proof
inviolate

i wish i knew you when you were younger
i wish i knew you when you were older

embryos have
no trade disagreements to store

how do i
stand up for everyone
holding all these tears

set down
your barrels of pennies

a basalt and gauze child
walks
into a convenience store

that isn’t there

-for Small Wonders and for Lisa
amethyst lisp

purples mesmerize

the dark walks itself home
in the dark

bonfires concern
gravity and heat

the carriage catches
circles

gem heart mistake
my purple act later

we sneak out
with unbroken rocks
pressed against our lips