“Celebrate for Anais Nin” by Nancy Shiffrin
in the hills I learn the design
the lizard outside my door
has different markings each year the same tissue
flame terrorizes brush strips ravines
cleanses the small animal population
I mourn quail and rabbits I’ve fed
fire part of the plan
the wild cells baffling your armor
aspects of the scheme
stain them adjust the lens
see how they multiply
jewels blossoming in your marrow
these homely parasites will devour your high cheek
your graceful step child-woman air will disappear
I weep do not despair
we are one cell — you I lizard rabbit quail
bequeath me your wigs
orange and yellow bobbed and fringed
I will comfort your falling hair
in The Vast Unknowing, Infinity Publishing
first published in a slightly different form in
the Los Angeles Times, 1981
____________________
Share your response to this work, in any form, here
Nancy Shiffrin Artist Statement:
Nancy Shiffrin is the author of Game With Variations, unibook.com, The Vast Unknowing,
Infinity Publishing, Out of the Garden, Lulu.com, Allison’s War, Lulu.com. She earned her MA
studying with Anais Nin, her PhD studying Jewish women authors. Her work appears in
Lummox Journal and numerous other periodicals. She has received recognition from The
Academy of American Poets, The Poetry Society of America, The Alice Jackson Foundation,
The Dora Teitelboim Foundation.
