"I don’t need to worry about moose or bears—..."
by Ingrid Calderon

      
    I don’t need to worry about moose or bears—
    just men.
    only men.
    (some women)
    who act like men—
    but mostly men.
     
    but a certain kind of man,
    (kind of men).
    kind men exist,
    I married one.
    good men exist,
    I married one.
     
    but there’s a certain type of man
    who is confused enough
    to believe he is confused enough.
     
    when we are possessed,
    we are possessed
    in the same way
    everybody else
    is possessed.
    (don’t you see?)
     
    the idea of —
    [clusters of feelings],
    [memories],
    [and thoughts]—
    operating independently
    in the unconscious mind,
    influence everything.
     
    be not possessed by them,
    these inner families—
    that’s the point.
     
    it can make you latch
    to breasts
    and words
    and kindness.
     
    possession
    is dysfunctional attachment.
     
    unlace.
    
    
Packingtown Review – Vol. 24, Fall 2025

Ingrid Calderon a poet, intuitive tarot reader, collagist, and the author of several poetry books. She lives in Los Angeles, CA with her husband, painter John Davey Collins.

  1. Ingrid Calderon
    "educated by white hands..."poetry