Issue No. 5 FLASHBACK: Post & Present “Unofficial Etymology” by Shawnacy Kiker
Cicatriz is arguable the most beautiful word. It means scar. Scars are generally not considered beautiful. The beginning of cicatriz reminds me of cicada. Scar backward is Racs. Like ruinations. Racks of meat. Like being tortured. Switch up the letters to get Sarc–the beginning of sarcasm. Or sarcophagus, which in the Greek means flesh-eating. Some species of cicada hibernate in the larva stage underground for seventeen years. Cras is Latin for tomorrow, that too is unrefined. Work your way through to Rasc. As in rascal. Or rascar, which in the Spanish means to scratch.
From Issue No. 5, POST & Present
Shawnacy Kiker @arbitraryjane: poetry editor of Coachella Review, mom of 7, eater of soups both fine and mediocre.
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Friday, June 10, 2016