The Porcupinity of the Stars

I scoop out the inside of my face
spit the seeds
at the Welcome Wagon

Children, enter my empty head
I have dangerous zits and a porcupine
also a hammock of great ideas

Some kind of emotion whirs like cards
stuck between the spokes of my teeth
or the library

They ask me
what will we see
through your one blind eye?

And I say the childless stars that spangle
the dark thong of the faceless sky
the pole-dancing god who made me

—GARY BARWIN

(Originally published Christmas, 2007.)

The famous Taddle Creek end note

Author Bio

Gary Barwin lives in Hamilton, Ontario, with vague yet colourful delusions about Toronto. He is a writer, composer, and performer. His books of poetry, fiction, and writing for children include Frogments from the Frag Pool (Mercury, 2005), Doctor Weep and Other Strange Teeth (Mercury, 2004) and Raising Eyebrows (Coach House, 2001). He has contributed to the magazine since 2001. (Last updated summer, 2008.)