Kirsten Lasinski

POETRY

The Bitter Peel

“The Bitter Peel” read by Kirsten Lasinski.

She turns from him
as they crouch beneath
the trees, wiping the juice
from her chin, her heart
raw as an ember of misplaced
desire throbbing in her eyes.
He wonders what she expects
now that she is all skin
now that she is an empty
canvas begging to be filled.
Surely, it is not his job
to make her beautiful.
He watches her jaw,
the rhythmic squeeze
as she gnaws toward the bitter
peel. He wishes he could
cover her, if only to hide
her shoulder blades
that rise like stunted wings.

Turning Aside

“Turning Aside” read by Kirsten Lasinski.

He turned aside to examine
a mystery. No smoke rose
to heaven, no ashes floated out
across the yellow sand. Still
the bush leapt like a banner
planted in the barren earth
a red proclamation lauding
descended heaven in fire.
Return, o soul, to this flame
like a desert scrub shouting
divinity among the rocks
for life is not lost on this altar
but found, discovered in the grace
of this consuming fire.

Kirsten Lasinski‘s poetry has appeared in Copper Nickel, Ruminate, Fathom, 2River, Time of Singing, and As Surely As the Sun. Moody Publishing published two of her novels, and she recently co-authored a book on Christian discipleship called Simple Grace. She lives in Denver and enjoys hiking and cooking for her husband and daughters.

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Image: Fall, CARACCIOLO, Giovanni Battista (Battistello) (1570-1635).