Jack & Adelle Foley

Along the Bloodline, by Adelle Foley. (Pantograph Press-Goldfish Press, Berkeley/Seattle: 2003, with introduction by Jack Foley, 2002). ISBN 0-9711601-1-2. Pantograph Press, 2569 Maxwell Avenue, Oakland, CA 94601-5521. For information, email jandafoley@sbcglobal.net.

"Adelle Foley has taken the miniature form of the haiku

and used it as the building block to create short lyric

sequences of evocative power and memorability."

                                                                                       -- Dana Gioia

A Wet Winter

The grass is growing

Through the cracks in the sidewalk

Of downtown Oakland

Lucky Night in the Mission

The thump on our car

At 16th and Valencia

Was a piece of fruit

Taiwan Earthquake

A feather duster,

An old photo, a postcard

"With love from your dad"

Remains of a life

The tenth-floor apartment is

Barely off the ground

Wrapped in an old quilt

She slept as we hurried by

On our way to work

I look in her eyes

And I know she needs it

Whatever "it" is

As it starts to rain

She's there, wrapped in cardboard

I don't want to tlook