POETRY 
Poisoned Fruit 
audrey RAYMOND 

Michigan cherry dark with sweet juice 
Trickled down your chin 
Caught in the divot by cool flesh 
I suckled and was satisfied 
As my head lay dreamily upon your chest 
I listened to the heart beat out of tune 
I collected its rhythm in my ear 
Tapped out its crooked dance across your stomach 
You clutched my arm until it stung 

But you let go 
I rea.ched out to ·your frigid arms 
They clutched your ribs in resistance 
I could not follow as you ran 
The red-faced burden of our love's nest 
Cried and wriggled in my arms 
As once you had 

Late 
Long after little whimpers quiet 
I am left with thoughts of you 
I sob in my tiny kitchen 
Rubbing my face into gritty linoleum 
I can taste the vomit that wells in my mouth 
I can feel myself dilute and spread 
Like a puddle of blood 
Dark red and unforgettable 
The juice of an overripe cherry 
That stained my lover's face 
When once he was mine 

82 

THE 2010 ANALECTA 
FICTION 

A Day at the County Fail 

angela HUFF 

(an excerpt) 

Callie and Michael were 
county fair. They couldn't wait t 
shifted from the left to the right · 
how many people were ahead of 

Callie closed her eyes at 
elephant ears sprinkled with pov 
oozing with hot steamy cheese. 

After what seemed like 
Callie and stuffed his own into t 
rides before they ate. Nothing w 
hand and excitedly said, "Let's l 

That sounded just fine t• 
the one that made her took shor1 
her pear-shaped figure and mad1 

The line of children to t 

come from. They were still pati1 
causing her to jump and unsettl1 

"Look," Michael told C 
ened little girl, who was now ru 
as she ran and jumped into her 1 

Callie and Michael exc 
tall lanky boy accepted their tic 
running. Enjoy." Michael's eye 
quickly looked away and glanc 
of fear to Callie. 

Callie 's knees wobbled