Sarah Browning

Sweet Labor

In the morning, the call of the crossword, but –
Too easy! Simpsons’ bartender (Moe), ___ gin
fizz (sloe). Three-letter word for dust-up (ado),
beehive haircut (updo). Words, word origins,
puns, palindromes, anagrams, funny typos 
(antiherpes in place of antiheroes):
goofball treasures to exchange, baubles of joy,
a home together in language. The sigh’s breath
the imagined tomorrow, body breaking
but still, brilliant promise of the tongue’s work, sweet
labor of teeth, lips, palette, jaw. Kissing words.

Copyright 2022 Sarah Browning

Bio:

Sarah Browning is the author of two books of poems, Killing Summer and Whiskey in the Garden of Eden. She is c`o-founder and for ten years was director of Split This Rock. She now lives in Philadelphia where she writes and leads virtual workshops for Writers in Progress.

30 for 30 is sponsored by Potomac Review