En dash

A dash one en long.
Random House Dictionary

Amy Genova (1958–)

I always thought compound words cozied up
friendly: armchair, brotherhood or cowslips,
but then--other words prison. Like en dash,
a small wall compounding adjectives or granting

equal muscle to words: the Israeli–Palestinian
fracas, this hour to the next red–blue state
contenders & the Bush–Cheney axis. En dashes
in encyclopedias are as patient as open graves--

ready for the end of every genius. Except Jesus--
unless like an atheists or en dash fans, you accept
nails for periods. Even if you find faith in Good
Friday’s benevolence or are at home with infinity,

there is no doubt

an en dash--scrawnier than a minus-exes through
all our a.m–p.m.'s: going to school, getting married
... owning dogs. Succinct as a noose, an en dash
has less hold than a hyphen,

much less than a hymen--a line that bleeds
when crossed. The atheist’s only hope--extend
the life-line--if not, find World War II gratitude
in crackers or the odor of milkweed, rank & pungent.

Unlike clerics, en dashes yield only clarity
or ashes. Think 1958–