RENAME THE BIRDS | WESTON CUTTER

Once was joy I ran toward and from. This treelined
path. Dusk and sunrise, counted footfalls. Once
was wonder. Used to rename the birds at each
turn of the trail—finch was swooping yellowflash,
jay a darting bluething. Hopalong redbreast, petulant
unblinking squawker that waited till the last minute
to fly away. Home was a cup of coffee, a kiss I'd recognize
from a thousand paces. The intake of breath before
my own name was whispered. Miles became more miles,
hopalong redbreast became dirty rustbird,

then burnt-out candle, then just redbird. Same bends
in same road, same birds, same breath over immeasurable
footfalls I'd never stopped counting, sure I was after
a quantity, some tally. Convinced I'd recognize
the number once I found it. Redbird, yellowbird, then
just birds in the way. Home as place where quiet
was quietest. Then simply to run, wordless, no
naming anything. To say nothing of overhead branches
hanging too low, stupid other runners. Used to be joy,
wonder at the way rain clung to branches like even water

knew better than to let go. Birds cut across grayblue
of sky, curve of an old lover's hand. Can't rediscover joy,
have to reinvent it every time. Redbird returns as unlit
winged firecracker, becomes bird you believed in once and
let go of, let gone. Miles don't become more miles,
already are miles. Footsteps just that, no number, no tally.
No ah-hah numeral. Home is wherever you're headed
next. At best a direction. Rain stuck in clouds like a name
in a heart and when the sky sparks electric it won't matter
what I'm running from when the water comes for me.


Weston Cutter is from Minnesota, runs the book review site Corduroy Books, and teaches creative writing at a tiny school in far northwest Iowa (called, appropriately, Northwestern).http://www.corduroybooks.comshapeimage_1_link_0

© 2010  |  all rights reserved

about us  |  xml feed  |  Contrary ® is a registered trademark of Contrary Magazine  |  donate $1  | contact us

http://www.contrarymagazine.com/
SUMMER 2010 COVER

OLEA EUROPAEA: YOUNG WOMAN WITH EROS ON HER SHOULDER
THERESA KISHKAN

RENAME THE BIRDS
WESTON CUTTER

BLUES FOR KIM ADDONIZIO
AMORAK HUEY

THEY DREAM OF AK-47s
LAURA McCULLOUGH

ON THIS SPOT
MARK HAGE

THIS PLACED
MATTHEW ROBERSON

LOCKED OUT
EDWARD MC WHINNEY


RECENT AWARD WINNERS
SHERMAN ALEXIE
MEREDITH MARTINEZ


REVIEWS
PHILIP PULLMAN
SARAH ROSE
DAVID AXELROD
S.L. WISENBERG
EDITH GROSSMAN
IDENTITY PARADE
Summer_2010.htmlTheresa_Kishkan_Olea_Europaea.htmlTheresa_Kishkan_Olea_Europaea.htmlTheresa_Kishkan_Olea_Europaea.htmlAmorak_Huey_Blues_for_Kim_Addonizio.htmlAmorak_Huey_Blues_for_Kim_Addonizio.htmlLaura_McCullough_They_Dream_of_AK-47s.htmlLaura_McCullough_They_Dream_of_AK-47s.htmlMark_Hage_On_this_Spot.htmlMark_Hage_On_this_Spot.htmlMatthew_Roberson_This_Placed.htmlMatthew_Roberson_This_Placed.htmlEdward_Mc_Whinney_Locked_Out.htmlEdward_Mc_Whinney_Locked_Out.htmlSherman_Alexie_Census.htmlhttp://www.contrarymagazine.com/Contrary/Love.htmlReviews.htmlPhilip_Pullman_Jesus_Christ.htmlSarah_Rose_For_All_the_Tea_in_China.htmlDavid_Axelrod_Departing_by_a_Broken_Gate.htmlSL_Wisenberg_Adventures_of_Cancer_Bitch.htmlEdith_Grossman_Why_Translation_Matters.htmlIdentity_Parade.htmlshapeimage_4_link_0shapeimage_4_link_1shapeimage_4_link_2shapeimage_4_link_3shapeimage_4_link_4shapeimage_4_link_5shapeimage_4_link_6shapeimage_4_link_7shapeimage_4_link_8shapeimage_4_link_9shapeimage_4_link_10shapeimage_4_link_11shapeimage_4_link_12shapeimage_4_link_13shapeimage_4_link_14shapeimage_4_link_15shapeimage_4_link_16shapeimage_4_link_17shapeimage_4_link_18shapeimage_4_link_19shapeimage_4_link_20shapeimage_4_link_21shapeimage_4_link_22shapeimage_4_link_23shapeimage_4_link_24
COMMENTARY | POETRY | FICTION | CHICAGO         ARCHIVES  | ABOUT  | SUBMISSIONS  | BOOKSHOP  | DONATE  | CONTACT  | SHAREArchives.htmlContrary.htmlSubmissions.htmlBookshop.htmlWritersFund.htmlContact.htmlhttp://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?v=152&winname=addthis&pub=contrary&source=men-152&lng=en-us&s=undefined&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.contrarymagazine.com%2F&title=Contrary%20Magazine&logo=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.contrarymagazine.com%2Fcontramazon.jpg&logobg=F5F4F4&logocolor=&ate=AT-contrary/-/-/4b3771ea6b8ea1a5/1/4b329e0c06baac67&uid=4b329e0c06baac67&CXNID=2000001.5215456080540439074NXC&pre=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.contrarymagazine.com%2FContrary%2FAutumn-2009.html&tt=0shapeimage_5_link_0shapeimage_5_link_1shapeimage_5_link_2shapeimage_5_link_3shapeimage_5_link_4shapeimage_5_link_5shapeimage_5_link_6
http://www.contrarymagazine.com/