DEC 3, 2010 • by Natalie McNabb

 

Do you swear
to tell the truth, the whole truth?
Yes,
                 I say.
The judge stumbles through questions
Asked of couples before.
It’s all in our papers.
    Why ask again?
He looks over his glasses.
His glance traps my own.
How does he do this
                   day after day?
Ching-chunk clanks
the judge’s concluding stamp.
Thanks for playing.
You’re not a winner.
Please try again,
                 he may as well have said.
I am released,
divorced, dismissed.

Natalie McNabb graduated from the University of Washington with distinction in English. Recent publications include fiction and poetry for Fish Publishing, InterSECTIONS, Bricolage Literary and Arts Journal, Virtual Writer, Ilura Press, Wigleaf, Catalyst Book Press, BlazeVOX and W.W. Norton & Company . She enjoys double short Americanos with secure lids.
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DEC 3, 2010 • by Natalie McNabb, 3.9 out of 5 based on 69 ratings
Posted on January 21, 2011 in Other, Poems
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8 Responses to “DEC 3, 2010 • by Natalie McNabb”


  1. “DEC 3, 2010″ up at Every Day Poets « WordLoft by Natalie McNabb Says:
    January 21st, 2011 at 10:15 am

    [...] out “DEC 3, 2010″ at EVERY DAY POETS. If you visit, please vote, and if you vote please be careful with the stars. The star you click [...]

  2. Caryl Worden Says:
    January 21st, 2011 at 1:45 pm

    “His glance traps my own”.
    Nice.

  3. Jerry Kraft Says:
    January 21st, 2011 at 2:58 pm

    I love the control of tone in this poem, both the cold officiousness of the judge and the palpable emotional restraint of the speaker. Very nice work.

  4. Roberta SchulbergGoro Says:
    January 21st, 2011 at 3:23 pm

    Did the judge say “Please try again” or is it the thought of the speaker of the poem? Judges can’t become emotionally involved. I like the optimism of the phrase. One bad experience doesn’t necessarily lead to another.

  5. Pam Says:
    January 21st, 2011 at 4:19 pm

    To Roberta,

    The line says “Please try again, he might as well have said” so she’s not indicating that’s what the judge actually said – it was just feeling of the speaker.

  6. Roberta SchulbergGoro Says:
    January 23rd, 2011 at 2:38 pm

    Thanks Pam, you make it as easy as last semester.

  7. Natalie Says:
    March 10th, 2011 at 2:54 pm

    Thank you for the comments, everyone!

  8. “The Best Bite” – Every Day Poets – Out May 16th « WordLoft by Natalie McNabb Says:
    May 12th, 2011 at 8:22 am

    [...] “DEC 3, 2010,” a “Top Poems of this Year” and “Top Poems of All Time,” up at [...]

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