Take Care

Aisha Sasha John’s part in The Optimisms Project

Question: What makes you feel optimistic about the future of poetry in Canada?

Her answer:

75 70 true things right now today as in 1:24 pm october 29 08 la plaine

1. six lumps of mosquito bites.
2. those girls were not from here. it wasn’t the clothes—it was the walk:
3. they were chest-lead.
4. if i go to the waterfall with h., he’ll see me in my bathing suit.
5. nuh uh.
6. he hands me a few mangos
7. and i soften.
8. cheap?
9. a nice gesture, even if there’s lust behind it, deserves return.
10. actually, no.
11. he actually believes it possible he’ll get?
12. men are amazing.
13. either a.’s cautious, unusually subdued, or
14. not quite there.
15. number three.
16. which is why i’m grumpy.
17. oh how form provides direction.
18. when the kids get home from school, that is amazing.
19. w. has the family eyes.
20. i see lots of want.
21. i kinda want to barf
22. a rubber band tied to the prongs of a flip-flop can secure it around a young ankle.
23. i don’t really give a fuck to write the rest of the 52.
24. 52—what a terrible number.
25. prime factors 13 and 2: lame.
26. so many to go and it weakens me.
27. a nap would be very cold lemonade
28. with honey.
29. that cock crowing looks like he wants to barf.
30. what kind of number is seventy-five?
31. far.
32. a challenge powers the will
33. and who breathes without dreams?
34. the dream seems very distant some days. this day right now.
35. and the dream is what
36. a state or a thing got?
37. this kid, 18 months, is heeling me in the arm which is fine because it’s itching one
    lump of a bite.
38. it’s important to write everyday because that’s what earns you the title. enough of being good.
39. every line is plucking a torn hair.
40. if this child falls it wouldn’t be nice. it looks as if that’s his dream.
41. they’re back!
42. the difference between losing and misplacing is perspective. retrospection? something about optimism or likelihood or, really, optimism.
43. i do it because i started.
44. all day long i’m right here and how long is to
45. outside all day there is what they call industry
46. why wouldn’t he.
47. because i’m too too?
48. like he’s going to hurl, upchuck, and he bosses the hens for food.
49. they talk to the sun they are hollering.
50. are they mad at the fact of the day?
51. who would look at that feathered beast and think yum?
52. when you sip you close your eyes. a four year old told me this, laughing.
53. always smiling. what are you smiling at? she said. also laughing. this one, thirteen.
54. if from little, delight; then from little, distress.
55. here: cleve sounds like cliff. roselle like rosehill.
56. it’s important to get out.
57. it was considered and dismissed: bringing me.
58. that is part of the appeal, the skin
59. certainly
60. also her height, the slimness.
61. these are sure things if not true.
62. that rooster again. fowl cock.
63. is the will worth powering?
64. i could get fucked
65. told you
66. what’s changed
67. something i don’t know.
68. it’s going to be more than fine. believe!
69. trust!
70. close enough