SWIMMING WITH A HUNDRED YEAR OLD SNAPPING TURTLE by Freya Manfred (Audio clip)

One Dark Snore

I no longer feel like a wife,
a monster, or a labyrinth.
I'm going to live with many
men now, or none at all.
A few men told me I was
lovely, but I rarely felt it.
They said the same to my
friends. The best men are
friends. I thank the universe
they exist. But, if you marry,
make sure you can survive
five grunts, four growls,
three sighs, two precious tears,
and one dark snore at midnight,
that tears away the veils.

from Swimming With A Hundred Year Old Snapping Turtle by Freya Manfred

The following audio clip is from The Moe Green Poetry Hour hosted by Rafael F. J. Alvarado and Stacy Mangiaracina, February 6th, 2008. A night of Red Dragonfly Press poets Floyce Alexander author of The Ice House; Freya Manfred author Swimming With A Hundred Year Old Snapping Turtle; and Dale Jacobson author of A Walk by the River and Metamorphoses of the Sleeping Beast.

Freya Manfred reads 'Swimming With A Hundred Year Old Snapping Turtle', 'Stars', 'Why I Can't Stay Married', 'A Man Must', 'One True Thing', 'Grandma's Grave', and 'Kind Young Stranger' all from Swimming With A Hundred Year Old Snapping Turtle (Red Dragonfly Press, 2008)