OfHerOwnKind, Notoffred
       

Ofbloodiron&bourbonsmoke
Ofabathtub full ofnothavingnone ofthisbullshit.

Ofmarchstep, ofoffering, not for nothing she is
hands and knees in the oyster ofthismoment

Ofherownkind, she asks, who is
Ofamind not to believe we are

ofthesamecells&stardust,
Ofdark matter, oftheGreekpoesis, offistsraised.

Ofouremigration, our passport stamps
tell offallow tales.

Ofmother'slips
we remember whisper on fontanelle,

ofstrawberrykissed mouths and hands,
that plucked those ruby hearts ofearth.

Ofbody'sinvisibilia, she composes herself:
reminder of off red [not offred].

Ofwater, lips rim a raindrop,
Ofocean denuded ofitssalt

Ofglass she makes a mirror
and swims in the corners ofherredredeyes.

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Copyright © 2019 Emily Shearer All rights reserved
from ellipsis
Reprinted by Verse Daily® with permission