“THERE’S NO THROUGH TRAIL” —HAN-SHAN, TRANSLATED BY GARY SNYDER

Biome

by Rebbecca Brown

Issue: Spring/Summer 2021

full of squiggle and stride
little tales writhe

biofluids that colonize
our inner lives

like some men
attempt alterneria

our bodies are different
communities

full of flowering
crowded archae mostly

mystery gene sequencing
reproduction binary fission

daughter cells daughter
cells daughter cells

daughter cells
mutual relationships

bowels and guts
twins fat and thin

both full of shit
removed to mice

grown fat from thin
daughter cell daughter

cell daughter cell
sold to the highest

bid goodbye bid

Listen to the author

About Rebbecca Brown

Rebbecca Brown is the author of the novel They Become Her (What Books Press 2014) and the lyrical prose collection Mouth Trap (Arc Pair Press 2018). Her work has appeared in print and online journals such as American Literary Review, Confrontation, Requited, Masque and Spectacle, Eclipse, The Turnip Truck(s) and Miracle Monocle (among others). She currently lives in Los Angeles and teaches in the College of Creative Studies at UC Santa Barbara.

Cold Mountain Review is published once a year in the Department of English at Appalachian State University. Support from Appalachian’s Office of Academic Affairs and College of Arts and Sciences enables CMR’s learning and publications program. The views and opinions expressed in CMR do not necessarily reflect those of university trustees, administration, faculty, students, or staff.

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