Jessica de Koninck’s Poems
Repairs
I almost went to visit the cemetery,
but you are not really there,
just what might be left
of the parts. When you died
your brother refused to look
at the body. That’s not Paul,
anymore, he said.
I did look.
I sat and examined you closely,
a moment after you died, an hour
after, several hours after.
You would have done the same
for me, taking note of the details
of the flesh after life, what changed,
what remained the same.
Your hair still smelled like your hair
when the men came to remove
the body. They would not let me
watch you go.
Instead of the cemetery I went
to Home Depot since it’s on the same street,
but not as far away. How funny
you would find me, navigating hardware,
electrical, plumbing supplies.
The whole place smells like men.
I miss that.
I walked past the yard bags
three times before I found them
and did not know to buy a switch
along with the light. How you loved
meandering the overstocked
aisles, inspecting the intricacies
of toggle bolts, checking lumber for knots
and warping. It’s my turn now.
I am becoming accomplished
in the small details of living alone.
I have learned to shim a table,
tighten a faucet, drill a hole.
Links to Poems on the Web
Publications
Collection
Finishing Line Press (2006)
Reviewed by Madeline Tiger in the Journal of NJ Poets (2008)
Poems
Back Seat Driver
Poetica Magazine (2009)
Birth Drum
Ruah (1999)
Blast Beginning with a Line Lifted from Howl
The Final Lilt of Songs: A Poetry Anthology, South Mountain Poets (2008)
Broken in Parts
Included in composer/saxophonist Oliver Lake’s multi-discipline work entitled Broken in Parts (1998)
Bullion
Mad Poets Review (2010)
Chagall’s Windows,
Earth’s Daughters (2005)
and in the anthology, Letters to the World: Poems from the Wom-Po LISTSERV, Red Hen Press (2008)
The Cold War
US1 Worksheets (2009)
Convertible
Exit 13 (1988)
Darling
Compass Rose (2011)
Decisions, decisions
Mischief, Caprice and Other Devices, Red Hen Press (2004)
Dressed to Kill
ECCO (Essex County College Observer) (2001)
Earth
US1 Worksheets (2011)
Edge of the Nest
Literary Mama www.literarymama.org (2004)
and in the anthology, Regrets Only, Little Pear Press (2006)
and in the anthology, Coming of Age, Skinner House Press (2007)
Flight
The Ledge (2009)
Footprints of the Stars
The Breath of Parted Lips: Poems from the Frost Place, Vol. II, CavanKerry Press (2004)
From the Tower,
Earth’s Daughters (2005)
The Funhouse
Valparaiso Literary Review (2007)
In My Garden
Edison Literary Review (2004)
I Want to Ask You,
Spindrift, Northwind Publishing (2006)
The Last Chapter
Bridges (2002)
Reviewed and reprinted in Jewish Currents, “Bridges- Politically Ambitious, Culturally Creative” (2003)
Last Steps
Excerpted in USA Today special report, “One Nation Divided” (2002)
The Long Way Home
Exit 13 (2000)
The Man in His Undershirt Wants Me
Paterson Literary Review (2010)
Allen Ginsberg Poetry Award, Editor’s Choice
Me
Edison Literary Review (2006)
My Life as a Dog
Edison Literary Review (2009)
Nobody
www.poetsonline.org (2003)
On Exhibit
Lips (2009)
On Rosh Hashonnah
Paterson Literary Review (2005)
Operating Theatre
US1 Worksheets (2009)
Pathology Report,
Passager (2006)
Contest issue, Honorable Mention
The Poem I Did Not Write,
US 1 Worksheets (2005)
and in the anthology, Regrets Only, Little Pear Press (2006)
Political History
Paterson: The Poets’ City, An Anthology Celebrating the 25th Anniversary of the Poetry Center at Passaic County Community College (2005)
Road Show
Higginsville Reader (2001)
Study in Art Deco
River King Poetry Supplement (2002)
Traffic Jam
PoetryMagazine.com (2003)
Translating Klezmer
Edison Literary Review (2002)
nominated for the Pushcart Prize
The War Memorial
Mail Call Journal, History Poetry Competition (1999)
Honorable Mention
Women at the Head of Their Class
Jewish Women’s Literary Annual (2000-2001)
contact Jessica at jessica.dekoninck@verizon.net