Alexandra McIntosh: "The Names of Saints"

The Names of Saints 
 
The ones I remember: caramel-crested 
fields of wheat along the highway, 
Saint Jean, the sun, the smack 
of diving boards, a full stomach, 
my stuffed rabbit’s ears, Saint Cecilia, 
her blood collected on napkins, 
Saint Theresa, the neighbor’s daughter 
toddler-dancing in the grass, 
Saint Francis and his animals, 
the cotton collar on a windbreaker 
I hid under when it stormed, Saint Sebastian, 
his body in a Roman sewer, 
my dad’s calloused hand, a lullaby 
cassette tape my mom played before bed, 
Saint Mary, orchids, chicory, 
the squish of worms under rain boots, 
my baby cousin smiling, Saint James 
the Less, the wrinkles in the church carpet, 
the pictures my brother drew 
in hymnals to make me laugh, 
Saint Joseph with hair like my grandpa 
because they share a name. 

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Alexandra McIntosh lives and writes in Kentucky, her favorite place in the world. Her poetry and creative nonfiction can be found in publications including The Raw Art Review, Broad River Review, and Allegory Ridge. Her first poetry collection Bowlfuls of Blue is forthcoming from Assure Press Publishing later this year. You can find links to her publications and pictures of her dog on her website AlexandraMcIntosh.com