High Score

by Michael Dylan Welch and Tanya McDonald

First published in our book, Seven Suns / Seven Moons (Seattle, Washington: NeoPoiesis Press, 2016), pages 42–43. Originally written 17 April 2009 aboard the Walla Walla ferry between Edmonds and Kingston, Washington. See also “Torpedo,” which was written simultaneously, and our kasen renku, “Up,” plus the book’s afterword.

seven suns

the economy

of childhood Michael

seven suns

the vending machine jammed Tanya

counting them all

more than seven suns

in the dragonfly’s eye Michael

reflecting on the necklace

of the Puget Sound mermaid

seven suns Tanya

all that jazz

and seven suns Michael

seven suns

the high score on the arcade game

is my phone number Tanya