Collaboration: Day 1

Elegy for TP: A Villanelle
March 18, 2020

It was almost as if toilet paper didn’t grow on trees
Until it didn’t and we looked to the bees
And earth was swaddled in green

The bees, and their sticky honey, and we, licking —
each one caught up in the useless, repetitive of their work, blind.
It was almost as if toilet paper didn’t grow on trees

A vase from Santa Clara del Cobre was revealed.
This is balance, but my spine won’t straighten.
And earth was swaddled in green

Each one caught up in the useless, repetitive of their work, blind.
We craved her Royal Jelly, but at what cost? We did not care.
It was almost as if toilet paper didn’t grow on trees.

A vase from Santa Clara del Cobre was revealed
And I prayed that they might skin us in their copper.
And earth was swaddled in green.
It was almost as if toilet paper didn’t grow on trees

by Joseph Milazzo, Rebecca K. O’Connor, Julianna M. Cruz, Frances Vasquez, Dar Stone, and Cati Porter

Original prompt: Inlandia writers: Let’s write a collaborative poem together. We’ll start with one line in the comments and everyone who wants to participate, use the comments to write your own line and add to the poem. We’ll share the completed work when it’s done. Ready, set, go!