They Found Me

Alaina Pepin

kneeling in a corn field when the snowcame. I was holding a rosary and a bikechain, trying to remember which onewould get me closer to God. At my feetwere two white candlesticks that I brokein half, a book of matches, a brass handbell. I made a crossbow of handlebarsand fishing line, an arrowhead of artichokeheart. How many drops of holy waterwill it take to clean my hands of ashand WD-40. As they carried me overtheir shoulders, I sang half-hymns, mouthedit is well. When they laid me on my stoop,wrapped in flannel, I slapped my palmto the cement, struck a match.Made my own sixth circle.

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Alaina Pepin teaches middle and high school English in Gold Beach, Oregon. Her work has appeared in Dunes Review, Rust + Moth, and Beech Street Review, among others.

the minnesota review

Issue 90

Blacksburg, Virginia

Virginia Tech University

Editor-in-chief: Janell Watson

Publishing contemporary poetry and fiction as well as reviews, critical commentary, and interviews of leading intellectual figures, the minnesota review curates smart, accessible collections of progressive new work. This eclectic survey provides lively and sophisticated signposts to navigating current critical discourse. Under the leadership of editor Janell Watson, the review will maintain its tradition of exploring the most exciting literary and critical developments for both specialists and a general audience.

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