Longman, Madelaine C, Ms,

English

Wilfrid Laurier University

The GooseVolume 14 | No. 1 Article 339-1-2015PetrocanMadelaine C. Longman Ms,University of CalgaryPart of the Critical and Cultural Studies Commons, Literature in English, North AmericaCommons, Nature and Society Relations Commons, Place and Environment Commons, and thePoetry CommonsFollow this and additional works at / Suivez-nous ainsi que d’autres travaux et œuvres:https://scholars.wlu.ca/thegooseThis article is brought to you for free and open access by Scholars Commons @ Laurier. It has been accepted for inclusion in The Goose by anauthorized editor of Scholars Commons @ Laurier. For more information, please contact scholarscommons@wlu.ca.Cet article vous est accessible gratuitement et en libre accès grâce à Scholars Commons @ Laurier. Le texte a été approuvé pour faire partie intégrantede la revue The Goose par un rédacteur autorisé de Scholars Commons @ Laurier. Pour de plus amples informations, contactezscholarscommons@wlu.ca.Recommended Citation / Citation recommandéeLongman, Madelaine C.. "Petrocan." The Goose, vol. 14 , no. 1 , article 33, 2015,https://scholars.wlu.ca/thegoose/vol14/iss1/33.Petrocan	  	  Dismantle	  yourself	  in	  a	  gas	  station	  bathroom.	  Curl	  soap	  	  around	  your	  tongue	  and	  scrape	  sleep	  from	  the	  corners	  	  of	  your	  eyes.	  Swipe	  your	  hands	  down	  your	  clothes,	  smooth	  	  your	  edges,	  and	  breathe	  the	  sanitized	  fluorescence.	  	  Close	  the	  door	  behind	  you.	  	  	  Pick	  up	  the	  drink	  that	  will	  leave	  your	  hands	  quaking	  	  and	  a	  twinge	  in	  your	  teeth.	  Supervise	  your	  fingers	  	  on	  the	  coins.	  Smash	  receipts	  into	  corners	  	  of	  your	  pockets.	  	  Outside,	  shake	  out	  your	  fingers,	  the	  petroleum	  stains	  	  which	  have	  hardened	  into	  lines	  of	  your	  knuckles.	  	  The	  landscape	  boils	  flat	  with	  afternoon.	  White	  dust	  dilates	  	  your	  edges,	  an	  ache	  of	  sun	  that	  your	  nails	  twitch	  to	  grasp.	  	  Sit	  in	  the	  dry	  grass	  and	  watch	  the	  pavement	  waver.	  	  Let	  your	  throat	  scratch	  with	  shards,	  broken	  mirrors	  	  and	  vacuum	  cleaners.	  	  In	  the	  bleached	  length	  of	  summer,	  allow	  your	  skin	  	  to	  strain	  like	  cracked	  sidewalks.	  Your	  tongue	  drags	  	  heavy	  with	  noises	  you	  can’t	  touch	  with	  sound.	  	  Traffic	  surges	  with	  no	  whisper.	  Every	  red	  car	  	  pierces	  your	  eyes.	  	  	  Inhale	  the	  white	  dust.	  Shift	  your	  gaze	  down,	  past	  shoelaces	  	  and	  words.	  	  Dark	  birds	  weave	  their	  shapes	  through	  the	  intersection,	  	  clutching	  the	  updraft.	  They	  carry	  the	  shape	  of	  their	  passing,	  	  jewel	  the	  air	  with	  a	  speech	  more	  ancient	  than	  yours.	  	  Behind	  your	  breathing,	  listen.	  This	  may	  be	  important.	  	  	  	  	  	  	  	  MADELAINE	  CARITAS	  LONGMAN	  was	  born	  in	  Swift	  Current,	  Saskatchewan,	  and	  currently	  lives	  in	  Calgary,	  Alberta.	  Her	  work	  has	  appeared	  in	  several	  magazines	  including	  Frogpond,	  filling	  Station,	  and	  Nōd.	  	  1Longman: PetrocanPublished by / Publié par Scholars Commons @ Laurier, 2015

Petrocan

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Petrocan

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