The Zingara Project

Tag: UT-El Paso Online MFA Program

  • Rules for flying by Allyson Whipple

    Be early, though you’ll inevitably be late. Don’t forget
    to tip whoever drives your cab, your shuttle bus. Tolerate
    children. Your passport photo will never be flattering,
    because you are not allowed to smile. Bring liquor
    or melatonin or antihistamines or whatever sedatives are legal
    these days. Sleep to avoid jet lag, or exhaust yourself to avoid
    jet lag, or don’t bother with either, because they won’t work.
    Gum won’t stop your ears from popping. Say Bless your heart
    to flight attendants and ticketing agents and mean it. Think
    Bless your heart to TSA and customs agents, but don’t say
    anything, because it might come out wrong. Observe
    how Earth is only a map when you’re 30,000 feet up. Accept
    the loss of control, admit you’re at the mercy
    of mechanics, logistics, weather.

    —

    Allyson Whipple has an M.A. in English and a black belt in Kung Fu. She is currently studying poetry through the UT-El Paso Online MFA Program. Allyson serves as co-editor of the Texas Poetry Calendar, and is the author of the chapbook We’re Smaller Than We Think We Are. She teaches at Austin Community College.

  • Rest Stop by Allyson Whipple

    ~For Harrison Porobil

    You’ve survived worse odds
    than this: childhood,
    hurricanes, homelessness.
    This time it’s just a broken
    lock that has you stuck
    here, taking stock
    of misfortune. What a way
    to spend Christmas
    morning, trapped on I-10.
    Gas station toilet a stinking
    pen. But no matter
    how you turn and pull
    and push until your muscles
    burn you’re stuck with stale
    air and stink and more time
    than you’d like to think
    about the turning of the year.

    There’s sweat upon your brow
    from fighting with the force
    that holds you in. As it’s always been:
    you’re a man of motion. Kick
    the door open, get in the car.

    —

    Allyson Whipple has an M.A. in English and a black belt in Kung Fu. She is currently studying poetry through the UT-El Paso Online MFA Program. Allyson serves as co-editor of the Texas Poetry Calendar, and is the author of the chapbook We’re Smaller Than We Think We Are. She teaches at Austin Community College.

    Texas Poetry Calendar 2016