water shaped
running mental laps recycling vowels to cry out when i inevitably am shoved to the hot
ground of my imagination because this does not happen
it won’t happen if i wear white veils instead of red and avoid speaking wolves and lay low in tide pools full of my own rebreathed breath
the air exhausted of its womanness with each safe suffocated exhale
anemones and polyps popping etiquette
threats at my eyes periwinkle with embarrassment
that i could think such a thing
could happen to an anthropomorphic deform
a clay vase abandoned before its waist was smoothed
with slip
if asked where is my fear i’d say oh yes here see it is water shaped
5 thoughts on "water shaped"
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Rich language and imagery! This is beautiful. And devastating. For me, “recycling vowels” “a clay vase abandoned” stand out–and the final image.
This piece too.
Your side-eye view, rich with unexpected images, sets you among a few of my favorite poets (looking at you, Bernie!).
My favorite phrase for imagery and the way it tastes on the tongue: “anenomes/ and polyps popping etiquette”
what an honor! thank you so much
River, I love your use of space, your playfulness with structure, imagery, and your fearless imagination. 🙂
” when i inevitably am shoved to the hot
ground of my imagination because this”
What a line!