Woman, Girl, Child: Remission

WOMAN, GIRL, CHILD: REMISSION

in parts I through IV

I

O bantam books, O fat cat records
publish my anxiety, record my embarrassment

market me: FAILURE! let my eulogy be

a billboard, this bright fear

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II

O broken social scene, O cat power
prescribe to me your seditious melancholy

you are my twirling pinwheel, my absolutist
husband, his Bible

in Lynchburg

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III

O mother, O oh mother
peak your head from your pillow
claw yourself from your dehydrated coma

and catch me! I’m in my room
with him on top, now behind me

walk in on us, Jesus

his forearms are sweaty against my sides
O ladysmith black mambazo, send me
your peace—

glimpse in me queenly anticipation

quite, peaceful repose

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IV

O bedtime stories, O sherwood forest

become manifest under my bed
portal to the 7 princesses