First published online for the RUSSH 2024 Literary Showcase
the sender of stalks
overlooked my name
labelled a vessel too fragile
to support life
mine or yours
to carry us beyond bodily
boundaries placed under construction
for a lifetime
to house a heart beyond my own
built for us from foundations laid by generations
who could only imagine
what it would take to hold you
egg timer simmering
shell primed to crack at the boil
a cavity shedding
with what purpose
without promise
craving to cradle not be the one cradled
unborn empty handed
yearning for the un-granted
atrophied arms contort
conform
caress
crumpled blankets laid bare
maybe
just for a moment
they may be filled with more
than hopeful air
collective hopes collate moments in cells
from great grandmothers’ child
more than a name
more than double helix dna
enmeshed beyond the elasticity of our skin
our flesh entwined
where do I end
and you begin
the sender of stalks has overlooked my name
declared a risk
tracking disabled
returned to sender