Mise en Scène by M.J. Iuppa

                        Lasse Six CC



​Mise en Scène
 
Someone’s burning brush, and the smoke
slides across the cornfield into our stand
 
of swaying pines, where it’s caught
in a dance that’s weaving a basket
 
to hold this summer day . . .             
 
Somewhere, too close for comfort,
the sound of rapid gunfire fills the air.
 
I can’t stand that sound.
That bang, bang— is never predictable.
 
I never know if the bullet’s coming
wrapped in its blue smoke towards
 
me— me, who never expected to be
the target, but suddenly I am.
 
What’s happening here?
 
My world, invaded by every-
day sounds, is coming apart
 
before my eyes, and I look
again at smoke hanging
 
on the pine boughs
like dust.
 
 


M.J. Iuppa  is the Director of the Visual and Performing Arts Minor Program and Lecturer in Creative Writing at St. John Fisher College; and since 2000 to present, is a part time lecturer in Creative Writing at The College at Brockport. Since 1986, she has been a teaching artist, working with students, K-12, in Rochester, NY, and surrounding area. Most recently, she was awarded the New York State Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Adjunct Teaching, 2017. She has four full length poetry collections, This Thirst (Kelsay Books, 2017), Small Worlds Floating (2016) as well as Within Reach (2010) both from Cherry Grove Collections; Night Traveler (Foothills Publishing, 2003); and 5 chapbooks. She lives on a small farm in Hamlin NY.