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black and white overlays of feminine faces
Zone 3 Press, the literary magazine of Austin Peay State University
Volume 40, Issue 1
Volume 40, Issue 1

IF YOU HAVE PAIN IN YOUR POCKETS

  • By D. Dina Friedman

pull out the insides. Let the ocean wind 
blow away the clinging silt. Show the sad man  
the patch of rainbow where the waves crest; 
right now there’s a distant ship sailing  
through prismatic foggy light. Its hull is glowing 
like the cake you made with your preschooler 
the first time you played with multi-colored frosting. 
Show him the child on the next blanket, laughing  
into their ice cream cone. If only you could finger  
that fudge, decorate the lines on the sad man’s face, 

maybe then, he could let go  
of that need to grasp words that float  
like clouds he can no longer catch.  
Once, he might have been a juggler, 
pockets filled with scarves, fire torches,  
day-glo balls in rainbow colors  
landing true in his open hands.  
Show him how to catch again. 
Show him a hat-and-cane dance. Show him  
the moon, even if he isn’t looking for it, 
especially if he isn’t looking for it.  

About D. Dina Friedman

D. Dina Friedman’s newest books are the poetry collection Here in Sanctuary—Whirling, (Querencia Press) and the short-story collection Immigrants (Creators Press). Her previous books include two YA novels, Escaping Into the Night (Simon and Schuster), Playing Dad’s Song (Farrar Straus Giroux) and one book of poetry Wolf in the Suitcase (Finishing Line Press). Dina has published in over a hundred literary journals including Rattle, Salamander, The Sun, Mass Poetry, Lilith, and Rhino. She has received two Best of the Net and six Pushcart Prize nominations. Visit her website at www.ddinafriedman.com or her blog on living a creative life in a creatively challenged universe at https://ddinafriedman.substack.com. 

black and white overlays of feminine faces
Zone 3 Press, the literary magazine of Austin Peay State University
Volume 40, Issue 1
Volume 40, Issue 1

IF YOU HAVE PAIN IN YOUR POCKETS

  • By D. Dina Friedman

pull out the insides. Let the ocean wind 
blow away the clinging silt. Show the sad man  
the patch of rainbow where the waves crest; 
right now there’s a distant ship sailing  
through prismatic foggy light. Its hull is glowing 
like the cake you made with your preschooler 
the first time you played with multi-colored frosting. 
Show him the child on the next blanket, laughing  
into their ice cream cone. If only you could finger  
that fudge, decorate the lines on the sad man’s face, 

maybe then, he could let go  
of that need to grasp words that float  
like clouds he can no longer catch.  
Once, he might have been a juggler, 
pockets filled with scarves, fire torches,  
day-glo balls in rainbow colors  
landing true in his open hands.  
Show him how to catch again. 
Show him a hat-and-cane dance. Show him  
the moon, even if he isn’t looking for it, 
especially if he isn’t looking for it.  

Volume 40, Issue 1
Volume 40, Issue 1

IF YOU HAVE PAIN IN YOUR POCKETS

  • By D. Dina Friedman

pull out the insides. Let the ocean wind 
blow away the clinging silt. Show the sad man  
the patch of rainbow where the waves crest; 
right now there’s a distant ship sailing  
through prismatic foggy light. Its hull is glowing 
like the cake you made with your preschooler 
the first time you played with multi-colored frosting. 
Show him the child on the next blanket, laughing  
into their ice cream cone. If only you could finger  
that fudge, decorate the lines on the sad man’s face, 

maybe then, he could let go  
of that need to grasp words that float  
like clouds he can no longer catch.  
Once, he might have been a juggler, 
pockets filled with scarves, fire torches,  
day-glo balls in rainbow colors  
landing true in his open hands.  
Show him how to catch again. 
Show him a hat-and-cane dance. Show him  
the moon, even if he isn’t looking for it, 
especially if he isn’t looking for it.  

About D. Dina Friedman

D. Dina Friedman’s newest books are the poetry collection Here in Sanctuary—Whirling, (Querencia Press) and the short-story collection Immigrants (Creators Press). Her previous books include two YA novels, Escaping Into the Night (Simon and Schuster), Playing Dad’s Song (Farrar Straus Giroux) and one book of poetry Wolf in the Suitcase (Finishing Line Press). Dina has published in over a hundred literary journals including Rattle, Salamander, The Sun, Mass Poetry, Lilith, and Rhino. She has received two Best of the Net and six Pushcart Prize nominations. Visit her website at www.ddinafriedman.com or her blog on living a creative life in a creatively challenged universe at https://ddinafriedman.substack.com.