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Syntax Issue 10
Denver Syntax
{stress interview}
  noel sloboda



Once the door locked, she became
a map: proxy for mile upon mile of terrain,

under swirling colors, below the palms

of an overzealous meteorologist.
She felt him track a nasty southbound system—

all those semaphores to articulate

the scope of imminent disaster
rolling across the country. She thought

everyone should know enough to stay

out of harm’s way, hidden in some basement—
but then some folks never do listen to

warnings: some folks have to work.