common time

        {images in a 4/4 measure,                                                                                                      
        common time,                                                                                  
        the count that skips
        or stretches, floats
        or sinks.}
    
1      piano strings
​        cut and tied,
        dangle snowflakes
        from a child’s mobile

2      the middle C endures
        my thumbprint

3      this key removed,
        like yanking
        a tooth, a dark gummy
        gap

4      a socialite of the future
        wears ‘round her neck,
        this key, an amulet
        {the piano key with my thumbprint}
        like amber
        with its trapped insect.

1      rest
2
3
4





Rachelle Pinnow is a graduate of the creative writing program at the University of Calgary, and studied poetry under the guidance of Christian Bök. She has published poetry and short stories in literary magazines such as fillingStation, Freefall, and NoD, among others. She has also collaborated with Calgary's past poet laureate, derek beaulieu, publishing some of her concrete poetry in his collection "Speechless" by No Press.