Early evening
in a nondescript
neighbourhood
the spacecraft
landed gently
and soundlessly
on their lawn
just as the husband
on the porch
said the word inadequate
to his wife
an argument of sorts
over sexual desire
and a worrying marriage
she pointed silently
to the spacecraft
he still entangled
in words and definitions
now in the midst
of a sentence—
my urges and wants—
that made no sense
outside the context
of his indignation
and constrained
world view
a light shone
on the porch couple
inside the spacecraft
there was deliberation
and what might be
construed as discussion
or argument
for there was room for only
one more passenger
and they selected her
his noise made them cringe
like family members displeased
with an evening meal.
Canadian fiction writer, poet, and playwright J. J. Steinfeld lives on Prince Edward Island, where he is patiently waiting for Godot’s arrival and a phone call from Kafka. While waiting, he has published 24 books, including An Unauthorized Biography of Being (Stories, Ekstasis Editions, 2016), Absurdity, Woe Is Me, Glory Be (Poetry, Guernica Editions, 2017), A Visit to the Kafka Café (Poetry, Ekstasis Editions, 2018), Gregor Samsa Was Never in The Beatles (Stories, Ekstasis Editions, 2019), Morning Bafflement and Timeless Puzzlement (Poetry, Ekstasis Editions, 2020), Somewhat Absurd, Somehow Existential (Poetry, Guernica Editions, 2021), Acting on the Island (Stories, Pottersfield Press, 2022), and As You Continue to Wait (Poetry, Ekstasis Editions, 2022).
https://49thshelf.com/Books/A/Acting-on-the-Island
https://49thshelf.com/content/search?SearchText=J.+J.+Steinfeld
Acknowledgements:
“The Spacecraft Landed Softly and Quietly on Their Lawn” from A Visit to the Kafka Café (Ekstasis Editions, 2018) by J. J. Steinfeld. Used by permission of the author.
Published 2/14/24