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Lisa Olstein is the author of four poetry collections: Radio Crackling, Radio Gone, winner of the Hayden Carruth Award; Lost Alphabet, a Library Journal best book of the year; Little Stranger, a Lannan Literary Selection; and Late Empire. In addition, she has published a book-length lyric essay, Pain Studies (Bellevue Literary Press, 2020). She teaches in the MFA programs at the University of Texas at Austin.

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If It Ever Happens That
the Fire Goes Out

by Lisa Olstein
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Someone I love has died. I am certain, but I cannot

tell who.

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  • Thanks! This is lovely, haunting, and I know I'll come back...

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