POETRY : in this universe, i (name my daughter monday) / Giovanna Lomanto
We are fans of Giovanna Lomanto. Of her poetry (see the four poems we’ve published in The Racket Journal, one which we nominated for a Pushcart), of her performance, of her deep dedication to continuing to bring new and exciting poets into the spaces she creates. We are always excited to see what direction Lomanto’s work goes next and we are particularly excited about this piece–”in this universe, i (name my daughter monday)”.
There is so much to say about this piece, and about Lomanto’s writing in general, but after reading through this poem twenty times to try and say those things, it’s probably just best if you read it yourself.
Also, Lomanto did us the solid of recording the piece.
Give it a read. Give it a listen. Give it some real estate in quiet part of your heart.
in this universe, i (name my daughter monday)
Giovanna Lomanto
feeling a little claustrophobic, skittish in the outcroppings of a temperature co-occupied on different nights. it was quiet on sunday’s, what with a preoccupation for prepping the linens for the monday rush. but sunday, the lord’s day it was. sunday was a breath and monday was an outburst, and i think i will name my granddaughter monday, too. she will be called the name of a second and a third and a fourth beginning, the antithesis of a finale. build. up and out, carrier of my marrow and girl of my lineage reads the sheet music and sings in a minor (a little somber, but fitted to the outskirts of a music sheet read and played and loved). she will have type o blood. she will be taught nothing of manners but everything of respect. she will be tricked and trodden and she will be the daughter of my racket and child of my rattle. she will be monday. she will be squeeze and release. she will be argument over the first day of the calendar. she yells with the lungs of excitement and sighs with a mind of relenting satiation, and her heart skips so flittingly it stumbles, yes, heartbeat is important—hers will be fast, that monday. monday speeds by, and before you know it, it’s sunday and monday is coming back again. and again. and there she is. again.
