“The Caller” by Gina Abelkop
I work this body, hello hello
Hello land
I’ve said goodbye to God
so as to take you up instead
Vast and skewered on the lamppost
of California it is me and all women
Bustled, raw and bought Freshening
dirted streets We give and give
and give unto the land We love
and temper the dance hall in time
to pianoforte Watch us now watch
This My best dress
It is blue It stands on its own
I can watch it move
knowing there’s only so far
it can go without me
Without us, this town, a belt
Strapped unhappily about bulged waist
Holding in the sky so it don’t come
down upon us all Who am I to
assert such damnations I am the
caller calling out unto us all
Hello land
I’ve said goodbye to God
so as to take you up instead
Vast and skewered on the lamppost
of California it is me and all women
Bustled, raw and bought Freshening
dirted streets We give and give
and give unto the land We love
and temper the dance hall in time
to pianoforte Watch us now watch
This My best dress
It is blue It stands on its own
I can watch it move
knowing there’s only so far
it can go without me
Without us, this town, a belt
Strapped unhappily about bulged waist
Holding in the sky so it don’t come
down upon us all Who am I to
assert such damnations I am the
caller calling out unto us all