by Jennifer Landretti | Jul 1, 2023 | Songbook
Last night I came home beat up from the daydropped into bed where I meant to praybut I was so weary with the news of it allI just dreamed the dream of my Mexican wall An old wooden cross on my Mexican wallhas four twisted nails, no Jesus at alljust footprints nearby...
by Jennifer Landretti | Jul 1, 2023 | Songbook
Gretchen is falling someplace faraway Like a whiffle ball dropped from a cargo plane bay.She falls through the clouds in the glow of the eveOver empty horizons & wide lonesome seas.Gretchen, oh, Gretchen, what do you see?If I ask you politely, would you tell...
by Jennifer Landretti | Dec 1, 2022 | Songbook
There’s whitecaps on the puddlesthe leaves have left the treesthe tavern sits on gravelcatching snowflakes on the breeze.The men trudge up hunkered downin coats and heavy shoesto warm their hearts with alcoholand play the two-ball blues.It’s two bits for a train...
by Jennifer Landretti | Dec 1, 2022 | Essays
I hunch in the porch shadows, feeling for the rough side of my key. After a few exploratory taps, I ease the blade into the lock then turn to face the sky. At half past four in the morning, the stars are still out. They winkle in the branches. I begin my walk, about...
by Jennifer Landretti | Jul 4, 2022 | Songbook
Sometimes I go to Pine River to let go of what’s already gone skip stones by the rust of the sawmill as the water moves steadily on. The foam at the foot of the pilings goes round like a head of dark beer the trout must be drunk on the moment with no thoughts of...
