The Rival Wizard
by Sam Stokley

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​Is there a rival wizard, David?
Someone who blankets you everywhere like
a straitjacket, a quake in the gut, the claws
of jealousy emergent. Who is it that consumes
your space? Here’s some candidates: Criss Angel--
jokes. Houdini--a dragon. The midwife--
yes, it’s her magic comes closest. Your baby girl 
features prominently on Instagram
with no clues to her own emergence.
From what earthly womb was she
wrought? These two points
form a line onto which I extrapolate
your existence: echidna, platypus. Here, 
some more coordinates: (butterfly, 
banana) (aloe vera, 
stars). ​