Jill Stengel
$6
Sadie. She said let me tell you. Another time she did.
Sadie said let me tell you about that time. It was a time it was. A time indeed.
The skirts were a different length that time, and the shoes. You should have seen the shoes.
A ghost in the story. A ghost.
The man he was different. There is always a man who is different. Whether he is different.
Another time she said. And tea.
Sigh. She moved her hand across her forehead. Sigh. To her cheek. She rested her head upon her hand. Stared unblinking. A long time.
Sometimes Sadie said it was hard to tell. Sometimes Sadie said. Sometimes.
In the evening Sadie received flowers.
In the evening Sadie sat at a table. Sat in a chair. Sat in another room.
Sadie would stroll. An elbow cupped. Sometimes.
A profile in relief. The sun and no clouding. Tree leaves and branches. Night and a star. Stars.
Sadie she said Sadie.
published in Ottawa by above/ground press
December 2025
a/g subscribers receive a complimentary copy
This is poet and publisher Jill Stengel’s 14th book, 13 of which are chapbooks. Jill is an ardent admirer of the chapbook form. Her a+bend press has released more than 40 chapbook titles, along with a handful of issues of a journal, as well as a small number of full-length books. Jill’s press has published work by some of her country’s foremost experimental women poets, and she continues to promote voices of experimental writers through collaborations, consulting, and editing. Jill is happiest when playing with words. She lives in Davis, California.
This is Jill Stengel’s second title through above/ground press, after tether (2013).
To order, send cheques (add $2 for postage; in US, add $3; outside North America, add $7) to: rob mclennan, 2423 Alta Vista Drive, Ottawa ON K1H 7M9. E-transfer or PayPal at rob_mclennan (at) hotmail.com or the PayPal button at www.robmclennan.blogspot.com
