THE MIRRORMAKER
ALSO BY BRIAN LAIDLAW
The Stuntman
THE MIRRORMAKER
POEMS
BRIAN LAIDLAW
MILKWEED EDITIONS
© 2018, Text by Brian Laidlaw
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 2018 by Milkweed Editions
Printed in the United States
Cover design by Mary Austin Speaker
Cover photo by Chris Morgan
Author photo by Colin Copp
18 19 20 21 22 5 4 3 2 1
First Edition
Milkweed Editions, an independent nonprofit publisher, gratefully acknowledges sustaining support from 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 Wells Fargo. For a full listing of Milkweed Editions supporters, please visit milkweed.org.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Laidlaw, Brian, 1983- author.
Title: The mirrormaker : poems / Brian Laidlaw.
Description: First edition. | Minneapolis, Minnesota : Milkweed Editions, 2018.
Identifiers: LCCN 2018013310 (print) | LCCN 2018033568 (ebook) | ISBN 9781571319487 (ebook) | ISBN 9781571314840 (pbk. : alk. paper)
Classification: LCC PS3612.A397 (ebook) | LCC PS3612.A397 A6 2018 (print) | DDC 811/.6--dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2018013310
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. The Mirrormaker was printed on acid-free 30% postconsumer-waste paper by Versa Press.
To Ash
CONTENTS
I.
Twin Brothers Drowning in a Flooded Ore Pit
Echo’s Impressions
Upstate Mothers
Playtime Empire
The Golden Rule of Copyright
Dark Sides
II.
Holster, Upholster
Dead Pony Recapitulation
Fractal
Chevron
They Found a Wolf
Echo’s Prom
No Anemics
Anechoic
III.
Returning to the Sycamore
Blood Orange
Blood Orange
Echo’s Prognosis
Assumption Hall
Prelude
Song
[I will make a space for you]
Canopy Fire
