Things no one knows
The evil eye is on me.
Take a look at the plumbing, how the water in the tub (the cold water) started to slow down.
I ignore many things.
One must or else collapse.
It got down to a trickle.
There is evil.
Eventually I call.
Jesse won't take new clients but I'm in his book.
He'll come on Friday.
Friday he can't come because of a house that has no water.
I am not an emergency.
Monday at 3 pm he taps a few pipes.
It works he says, but not for long.
Nothing works for long but in this case the "not for long" is right around the corner.
Things happen on weekends and they are expensive.
Things happen on holidays and there is no one around to help you.
The pipes are no good from the house to the street.
Look at the plaster in the bedroom corner by the dirty clothes basket.
The patch I patched with Spackle fell off.
No earthquakes, no leaks, it fell out of nowhere and onto my black rayon dress.
Now there is a scab on the ceiling.
Can't see the face of Jesus.
No Virgin Mary silhouette.
A sick continent is surrounded by a gray sea.
Look, track lights in the kitchen.
On.
Then.
Won't go on.
Then on again.
See the garbage disposal and the half mashed up shrimp egg rolls I fish up.
Need a new one, says Jesse who will come Thursday but arrives Monday.
Where's the short?
I tell the mechanic I noticed it when the radio would go off and on.
Now the door locks do the same.
Now I can't see the speedometer or the time.
Now the battery is drained and no jump starts it.
How else would you explain it?
Life is full of messages interrupted.
Calls for garlic in the bra.
Just a clove.
Keep it private.
A sweet variety works best.
Of course there are smelling salts.
A small bottle on an altar.
Some dabbed on the wrist.
Sends the evil back to the one who set it in motion.
The front screen won't lock or locks and won't open from the outside.
Same is true for the toaster oven.
Snapped knob in my hand.
Then the couch, rip along the seam, yellow cotton stuffing is a kitten toy.
I head for the electric sweeper.
Back away grab the broom and dust pan.
Ordinary wear out.
Stress-induced fracture.
The Turkish refrigerator starts to leak.
It freezes and then what's frozen melts and settles in the vegetable bin.
What's in the vegetable bin turns to slime.
If you look over anyone's life you'll find reasons.
The intentional discourtesy.
The times I've cut in to get ahead on the 5 freeway interchange from the 110.
The rear view mirror what's it doing in my hand?
Published in Agni magazine issue 45
The evil eye is on me.
Take a look at the plumbing, how the water in the tub (the cold water) started to slow down.
I ignore many things.
One must or else collapse.
It got down to a trickle.
There is evil.
Eventually I call.
Jesse won't take new clients but I'm in his book.
He'll come on Friday.
Friday he can't come because of a house that has no water.
I am not an emergency.
Monday at 3 pm he taps a few pipes.
It works he says, but not for long.
Nothing works for long but in this case the "not for long" is right around the corner.
Things happen on weekends and they are expensive.
Things happen on holidays and there is no one around to help you.
The pipes are no good from the house to the street.
Look at the plaster in the bedroom corner by the dirty clothes basket.
The patch I patched with Spackle fell off.
No earthquakes, no leaks, it fell out of nowhere and onto my black rayon dress.
Now there is a scab on the ceiling.
Can't see the face of Jesus.
No Virgin Mary silhouette.
A sick continent is surrounded by a gray sea.
Look, track lights in the kitchen.
On.
Then.
Won't go on.
Then on again.
See the garbage disposal and the half mashed up shrimp egg rolls I fish up.
Need a new one, says Jesse who will come Thursday but arrives Monday.
Where's the short?
I tell the mechanic I noticed it when the radio would go off and on.
Now the door locks do the same.
Now I can't see the speedometer or the time.
Now the battery is drained and no jump starts it.
How else would you explain it?
Life is full of messages interrupted.
Calls for garlic in the bra.
Just a clove.
Keep it private.
A sweet variety works best.
Of course there are smelling salts.
A small bottle on an altar.
Some dabbed on the wrist.
Sends the evil back to the one who set it in motion.
The front screen won't lock or locks and won't open from the outside.
Same is true for the toaster oven.
Snapped knob in my hand.
Then the couch, rip along the seam, yellow cotton stuffing is a kitten toy.
I head for the electric sweeper.
Back away grab the broom and dust pan.
Ordinary wear out.
Stress-induced fracture.
The Turkish refrigerator starts to leak.
It freezes and then what's frozen melts and settles in the vegetable bin.
What's in the vegetable bin turns to slime.
If you look over anyone's life you'll find reasons.
The intentional discourtesy.
- The misstatements.
The times I've cut in to get ahead on the 5 freeway interchange from the 110.
The rear view mirror what's it doing in my hand?
Published in Agni magazine issue 45
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©2024/2025 Jacqueline De Angelis, writing, audio, video, paintings and site images are the property of Jacqueline De Angelis. Photography: Ricardo Medina, Edean Amador. Watercolors: Jacqueline De Angelis. Design: Simple West.
©2024/2025 Jacqueline De Angelis, writing, audio, video, paintings and site images are the property of Jacqueline De Angelis. Photography: Ricardo Medina, Edean Amador. Watercolors: Jacqueline De Angelis. Design: Simple West.