Narrative Arc
by Lauren Russell

Derrida’s cat looked at Derrida naked.								action

Derrida’s cat’s retinas contracted in the light.						process

Derrida felt himself gazed at by his cat.								state

Derrida was disgraced by his cat looking upon his nakedness.			devaluation

Derrida supposed that his cat was snickering at him. 					projection

Derrida supposed that his cat acknowledged his nakedness. 			anthropomorphism

Derrida recalled that his cat had heard the story of Adam and Eve 
followed by the story of Puss in Boots.								recollection

Derrida recalled that his cat had often napped on his cashmere scarf.	recollection

Derrida surmised that his cat had a respect for raiment.				extrapolation

Derrida put on an argyle tie.										action

Derrida’s cat swatted the tie.										reaction

Derrida cursed his cat.											interpellation

Derrida’s cat’s ears perked.										recognition

Derrida’s cat was now his subject.									revolution
Derrida’s cat looked at Derrida naked.									action

Derrida’s cat’s retinas contracted in the light.							process

Derrida felt himself gazed at by his cat.									state

Derrida was disgraced by his cat looking upon his nakedness.				devaluation

Derrida supposed that his cat was snickering at him. 						projection

Derrida supposed that his cat acknowledged his nakedness. 				anthropomorphism

Derrida recalled that his cat had heard the story of Adam and Eve 
followed by the story of Puss in Boots.									recollection

Derrida recalled that his cat had often napped on his cashmere scarf.		recollection

Derrida surmised that his cat had a respect for raiment.					extrapolation

Derrida put on an argyle tie.											action

Derrida’s cat swatted the tie.											reaction

Derrida cursed his cat.												interpellation

Derrida’s cat’s ears perked.											recognition

Derrida’s cat was now his subject.										revolution
Derrida’s cat looked at Derrida naked.									action

Derrida’s cat’s retinas contracted in the light.							process

Derrida felt himself gazed at by his cat.									state

Derrida was disgraced by his cat looking upon his nakedness.			devaluation

Derrida supposed that his cat was snickering at him. 					projection

Derrida supposed that his cat acknowledged his nakedness. 				anthropomorphism

Derrida recalled that his cat had heard the story of Adam and Eve 
followed by the story of Puss in Boots.									recollection

Derrida recalled that his cat had often napped on his cashmere scarf.		recollection

Derrida surmised that his cat had a respect for raiment.					extrapolation

Derrida put on an argyle tie.												action

Derrida’s cat swatted the tie.												reaction

Derrida cursed his cat.													interpellation

Derrida’s cat’s ears perked.												recognition

Derrida’s cat was now his subject.										revolution
Derrida’s cat looked at Derrida naked.								action

Derrida’s cat’s retinas contracted in the light.							process

Derrida felt himself gazed at by his cat.								state

Derrida was disgraced by his cat looking upon his nakedness.			devaluation

Derrida supposed that his cat was snickering at him. 					projection

Derrida supposed that his cat acknowledged his nakedness. 			anthropomorphism

Derrida recalled that his cat had heard the story of Adam and Eve 
followed by the story of Puss in Boots.								recollection

Derrida recalled that his cat had often napped on his cashmere scarf.	recollection

Derrida surmised that his cat had a respect for raiment.				extrapolation

Derrida put on an argyle tie.										action

Derrida’s cat swatted the tie.										reaction

Derrida cursed his cat.												interpellation

Derrida’s cat’s ears perked.										recognition

Derrida’s cat was now his subject.									revolution
Packingtown Review – Vol.5, Fall 2013

Lauren Russell is the author of the chapbooks Dream-Clung, Gone (Brooklyn Arts Press, 2012) and The Empty-Handed Messenger (Goodbye Better, 2009). She holds an M.F.A. from the University of Pittsburghand will be the Jay C. and Ruth Halls Poetry Fellow at The Wisconsin Institute for Creative Writing for 2014-2015.

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