Catherine Chandler

Saint Joseph’s Oratory, Montreal.Between the crypt and dark magmatic rockof the mountain’s flank, along a blue-domed hallone hundred four feet long, I slowly walk.Ex-votos hanging on the chapel wall—canes and crutches—testify en blocto gratitude and grace. This same motifrepeats in . . . . Continue Reading »

For man also knoweth not his time. (Ecclesiastes) the silver cord the broken lamp the overboard the firedamp the golden bowl the unbeknown the grassy knoll the chicken bone the shivered wheel the shattered jar the broken keel the cattle car the poor, the rich the swift, the slack the fool, the . . . . Continue Reading »

Among the pipes and pulleys, sacks and seeds, there is a necklace made of crimson beads. Great care was taken that it catch the eye of plain-clad fernandinas passing by the Sunday market stalls and sundry shops where needs and wants diverge. A woman stops. She holds the necklace to her collar, asks . . . . Continue Reading »

players on a soccer team stars in Joseph’s second dream odd reversible and prime dimensions (counting space and time) pipers piping salt (Na) month day hour Veteran’s Day goat’s hair curtains ripped apart ounce-weight of the human heart twelve less Judas David’s men pearls and . . . . Continue Reading »

For moments when they questioned me and I replied indifferently, or wished I’d practiced birth control, may God have mercy on my soul. For little mouths washed out with soap, for loss of patience, faith, and hope, for all the times I botched my role, may God have mercy on my soul. For bad . . . . Continue Reading »