The First Rondeau
Out of Much Hysteria/From Whence I Pass
Joan conspicuous Joan is Grammar or Fallopian. So slender a saint can Sometimes faulty architecture, a suitcase Mistakenly left By the door. Joan is a saint remembering all Weathers from which, out of Which she might One day learn to float That is the function of a saint. Mirrored Noun. Antoine Meillet Middle French I am sensate for it
The Second Rondeau
Speaking Immaculate/As if that Were Ever Really an Option
Joan, which in certain weathers is Pronounced Moving Crosswise Has been known in Paris And the surrounding country Side never called the language she spoke Middle French it’s A kind of sap one Certain men will suck Most generously and humble saint Is a new style of menstruation and thus A space for bad memory Joan was 19 which was not a choice But a language. Sweet tremble
The Third Rondeau
To Fall Hard/And then Comes the Bleeding
Joan is a language guilty. A language guilty and Burned at the stake. I will admit Cocks were there. As saint is any to make it new my Mercy to clot I will admit Clotted is pigeons Clotted is I’m wearing this yellow thing for Clotted is with beauty and in this Clotted is of saints in memory Clotted is nor in my cinema Clotted is upwards as morning dew Clotted is phallic to my literary thickness Clotted is contrary but still quite tawdryAnn Pedone’s books include The Medea Notebooks and The Italian Professor’s Wife. Her poetry, non-fiction, and reviews have been published widely. Ann’s project “Liz” was a finalist for the 2024 Levi’s Prize. She has been nominated for Best of Net and the Pushcart multiple times. Ann is the founder and editor-in-chief of the journal and small press, αntiphony.