2 Poems

by Dale Wisely

6 Entries on Calyx

Calyx
a component of the mammalian kidney,
the major calyx is near the malpighian pyramid,
surrounding the apex thereof

Calyx
UK drum and bass artists,
specializing in the neurofunk style,
appeared with Renegade Hardware

Calyce
a figure in Greek mythology,
seduced by the god Poseidon,
bore him a son

Calyx
the sepals of a flower,
lying under more conspicuous petals,
protecting delicate floral parts within

Calyx
the crown of a crinoid,
a marine animal also known as sea lily,
also known as feather star

Calyx of Held
a synapse in the auditory brainstem,
part of a system required for sensing
the location of high-pitched sounds

_____________________________________________________________________________ Buffalo

for Howard Good

We learned
didn’t we?
that buffalo
were hunted
nearly to extinction
by Western wantonness.

We have learned
haven’t we?
that they’ve come back
in herds of hundreds of thousands
on prairie ranches.

We’re required by law
aren’t we?
to believe it is so.
This is to salve
a little sore of collective guilt.

They’re not there, really,
are they?
You may drive the Dakotas,
count them up and
reckon their numbers.
But they aren’t there.

________________________________________________________________________________________________

Dale Wisely is the founder and editor-in-chief of Right Hand Pointing. Dale has poems and short fiction in America, Amaryllis, Birmingham Poetry Review, National Catholic Reporter, Poet’s Canvas, Salt River Review, The Hiss Quarterly, Radiant Turnstile, Thunder Sandwich, Main Street Rag, Birmingham Arts Journal, Blue Collar Review and elsewhere. He is the author of a print chapbook, Visitation. Seven Stars, an web chapbook, is available at the Dead Mule School of Southern Literature website. He had visual art recently in Unpleasant Events Schedule.