Jaswinder Bolina was born in Chicago in 1978. He received his B.A. from Loyola University Chicago and his M.F.A. from the University of Michigan. He currently studies and teaches in Athens, Ohio, where he is a Ph.D. student in the Creative Writing Program at Ohio University. His book Carrier Wave was the winner of the 2006 Colorado Prize for Poetry (Center for Literary Publishing, 2007).
Mood Ring
Inside me lived a small donkey. I didn't
believe in magic, but the donkey
was a sucker for the stuff. Psychics,
illusionists, arthritics who'd predict
the rainfall. That was the year I had trouble
walking. I over-thought it and couldn't
get the rhythm right. The donkey re-taught me.
"This foot. Yes, then that one. And swing
your arms as if you're going to trial
to be exonerated of a crime
you've most definitely committed."
Next, trouble sleeping because
I'd need to crank the generator in my chest
so frequently. Seeing I was overworked,
the donkey finally hauled it out--
it looked shiny and new, a silver dollar--
and tossed it into a flock of birds
who had to fly a long way to find safety.
I knew then I was a large and dangerous man,
what with this donkey living inside me,
but felt futile. One day, during
a final lesson on breathing,
the donkey asked what kind of jeans
I was wearing. I said, "The somber ones."
"Poor kid." "So will you be staying on
for a third year, donkey�" "No. I think
I should be leaving soon. I think
I should go and await your arrival beside
the crumpled river." "Yes, I suppose
you have many important matters to attend to,
but maybe one day I will come and join you
for a drink, or perhaps, for a brief nap."
the rainfall. That was the year I had trouble
walking. I over-thought it and couldn't
get the rhythm right. The donkey re-taught me.
"This foot. Yes, then that one. And swing
your arms as if you're going to trial
to be exonerated of a crime
you've most definitely committed."
Next, trouble sleeping because
I'd need to crank the generator in my chest
so frequently. Seeing I was overworked,
the donkey finally hauled it out--
it looked shiny and new, a silver dollar--
and tossed it into a flock of birds
who had to fly a long way to find safety.
I knew then I was a large and dangerous man,
what with this donkey living inside me,
but felt futile. One day, during
a final lesson on breathing,
the donkey asked what kind of jeans
I was wearing. I said, "The somber ones."
"Poor kid." "So will you be staying on
for a third year, donkey�" "No. I think
I should be leaving soon. I think
I should go and await your arrival beside
the crumpled river." "Yes, I suppose
you have many important matters to attend to,
but maybe one day I will come and join you
for a drink, or perhaps, for a brief nap."
That's a tough piece...hooray for the donkey poem! And thanks.