a hatching

11 November 2023

YEARS LONG SPENT IN THE OPEN

SUBMERGING MY HEAD BELOW THE DUCKWEED:

DRAWN IN, FULL WITH WATER, FULL WITH

BRIGHT:

COLD AIR:

LUNGS CUT AT THE STEMS:

SEE NOW, UNDIFFUSED, UNQUIET, THROUGH NO DOORS, THROUGH NO LOCKS, SEE

NOW, THE SLOW TICKING,

THE LEECH PULLED WHOLE OFF MY THIGH, MURKY WATER IN THE CROOK OF MY KNEE, SEE NOW ALGAE PLUGGING THE WOUND:

I MEAN MYSELF HEALTHY. MICROORGANISMIC. TAPEWORMS. LARVAE

CURLING UNDER THE HANGING LIGHT:

BLOOD CLOTTED A CHRYSALIS

THE LEECH THRASHING AT MY FEET

THE CAVITY OF MY BODY DRAINED TO MAKE HOME FOR THE BLADE EDGE OF VOICE:

I MEAN MYSELF HEALTHY.

SEE NOW.

THE ATOM SPLITS

:

I, HUMID, HALE, WHOLE,

MY ALL EYES OPEN YELLOW,

NO LONGER STILL WET FROM THE BAPTISM,

COME HOLDING THE KNIFE