Today's poem is by Mara Beneway

Poem for Sluts
       

Here, take this box of afternoon, I peeled
sunshine off my sheets for you,
girl of red tulle, hand under the table,
favorite word is

please, take this colony of bats,
a measure of good trouble that flies
over my porch early night.

Velveteen temptress, soft-boiled
wonder, take this morning of blushing
thighs, made scarlet

just the way you like it. Hellish
mother, greedy empress,

I've gathered for you a bouquet
of shiny bugs, listen
how loud loud loud—

Curious whore, woman interested
in everything, if you see yourself
in the mirror: this is for you.

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Copyright © 2023 Mara Beneway All rights reserved
from Conduit
Reprinted by Verse Daily® with permission