Jeremy Osner

Jeremy Osner lives in Orange with his wife Ellen Kahaner and dog Daisy. He has been writing (poetry, fiction, translations, and blogging) for as long as he can remember. Previously published in Words Without Borders, Two Lines, The Utopian, Metamorphoses, The Acentos Review, Limulus, and Palabras Errantes.

Elephants in the Room (POEM)

...And life went on, of course. It does, or did.

They went to work, or looked for work, and stayed in touch, 

And stayed away from touchy subjects, didn't broach

Disturbing questions; yeah, they walked on eggshells

When they had to, skirting gingerly around

The herds of elephants, the sleeping beasts, 

That took up all the space.

It's getting crowded, the perennial complaint--

But careful: don't ask why it's feeling crowded,

Wouldn't want to rock the boat.

You know these elephants sleep light, 

A fly can wake them up;

Once woken, start to grumble:

Need to feed them, bathe them, pay attention, 

There's no end to all the trouble it will bring.