Lodestar Quarterly

Lodestar Quarterly
Figure reaching for a star Issue 10 • Summer 2004 • Featured Lodestar Writer • Poetry

The Leonids of 2001: Susan sees her first shooting star

Elana Dykewomon

the war

has receded
because constellations
are so big

she bites the dark sky
peppermint
gives off sparks

was that the rumor?
phenomena
replace faith

science has its
magic tricks
its blandishments

through which we are
expected to walk
a false door

nevertheless leads
to eclipse, meteors
sudden news

that ordinary foods
green tea, apples
are good

dessert at 3 am
shooting stars
she turns to candy

at last
we are nothing
but wonder:

her first one
was a hundred --
even the cosmos

has its hyperbole
and its point
throw down your weapons

eat awe

Elana Dykewomon

Elana Dykewomon published her first novel, the Second Wave classic Riverfinger Women, when she was 24. She went on to publish another five books, including her Lambda award-winning Beyond the Pale, a Jewish lesbian historical exploration of lesbians in 19th century Russia and the Progressive era in New York, which was republished in 2004. Moon Creek Road is Elana's new collection of stories. Her essays and poetry can be found in numerous anthologies. Elana brought the international lesbian feminist journal, Sinister Wisdom, to the San Francisco Bay Area in 1987, serving as an editor for nine years. A life-long cultural worker and political activist, she lives in Oakland, California with her lover among friends, writing, editing, teaching and trying to stir up trouble whenever she can.

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