Also by Lee Ann Roripaugh
On the Cusp of a Dangerous Year
Year of the Snake
Beyond Heart Mountain
© 2014, Text by Lee Ann Roripaugh
Cover art © Kimiko Yoshida, The Astronaut Bride. Self-portrait, 2002.
All rights reserved. Except for brief quotations in critical articles or reviews, no part of this book may be reproduced in any manner without prior written permission from the publisher: Milkweed Editions, 1011 Washington Avenue South, Suite 300, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55415.
(800) 520-6455
Published 2014 by Milkweed Editions
Cover design by Mary Austin Speaker
Cover photo by Kimiko Yoshida
Author photo by Cathy Flum
14 15 16 17 18 5 4 3 2 1
First Edition
Milkweed Editions, an independent nonprofit publisher, gratefully acknowledges sustaining support from the Bush Foundation; the Jerome Foundation; the Lindquist & Vennum Foundation; the McKnight Foundation; the National Endowment for the Arts; the Target Foundation; and other generous contributions from foundations, corporations, and individuals. Also, this activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a Minnesota State Arts Board Operating Support grant, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund, and a grant from the Wells Fargo Foundation Minnesota. For a full listing of Milkweed Editions supporters, please visit www.milkweed.org.
Roripaugh, Lee Ann.
[Poems. Selections]
Dandarians : poems / Lee Ann Roripaugh.
pages cm
ISBN 978-1-57131-896-1 (ebook)
I. Title.
PS3568.O717A6 2014
811’.54--dc23
2014004212
Milkweed Editions is committed to ecological stewardship. We strive to align our book production practices with this principle, and to reduce the impact of our operations in the environment. We are a member of the Green Press Initiative, a nonprofit coalition of publishers, manufacturers, and authors working to protect the world’s endangered forests and conserve natural resources. Dandarians was printed on acid-free 30% postconsumer-waste paper by Versa Press.
For Emily Haddad, Cathy Flum, Susan Wolfe, Pen Pearson, Caroline Hong, and Allison Adelle Hedge Coke, among others, with much love and gratitude. You are my missing sisters and best friends forever.
For Kundiman, my beautiful poetry tribe.
For my wonderful colleagues and students at the University of South Dakota and at the University of Nebraska MFA in Writing.
For all of the mentors, editors, journals, presses, and reading venues that have supported my work over the years with such kindness and generosity—including a special thanks to Milkweed Editions and Allison Wigen for believing in Dandarians.
And, with love always, for Bruce, my sweet giant, my beautiful tsunami.
I would also like to thank the South Dakota Arts Council, the Banff Centre for the Arts, the Kimmel Harding Nelson Center for the Arts, and the University of South Dakota for the gifts of funding, time, space, and support without which this book would not be possible.
CONTENTS
Trompe l’Oeil: The Annotated Version
Butch/Femme in the Streets/Sheets
Unswallowing
Of Course, I’m Nobody . . . But Who Are You?
Antimacassar
Skywriting
Daylight Savings Time: An Interrogatory
PART III
Animoaney
Spillover
Bruised Interrogation
Annealing
1. Like a Blown Fuse
2. Crackpot
3. Handle with Care
4. Raku
Thirteen Ways of Looking at the Vermillion River
Sleepless Graffiti
PART IV
Dee Aster
Hola, Hola
Talk Television: Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom
