in stitches

By Rebecca Peterson, Assistant Editor

my skull it seems is paper thin

too weak to keep the words all in
it splits in half, a mouth that gapes
and spills and spills until I ache

I take precautions day by day

to cut down on the shit I say
thread the needle, work by touch

| add a stitch; I’ve said too much

this paper head isn’t much use

the eyes miss all kinds of abuse

the nose can't tell perfume from stench

the teeth grind down, the jaw stays clenched
you see this face in all its glory

paper torn and edges gory

and use the ears like they're your crutch

I add a stitch; I’ve said too much

some days the mouth rips free of thread
and words spew through the paper shreds
I find relief for moments, then

the silence fills the space within

what | expect, | never know

the shame seems hardly worth it though
I stem the tide, | break the rush,

L add a stitch; I’ve said too much

you want to know what's all behind
the plastic heart, the paper eyes

you pull the stitches one by one

I let you try, and then it’s done

there's piles of words; you take just two
you leave the rest, say “these will do”
it's not that I'm surprised as such

| add a stitch;

ABS

Lassitudinem Rex
By J. Savage, Contributor

I want to live like the dinosaurs.
Fossilized, immortalized.
I think these would calcify well.

Find me under hills. Find me arms spread
as if | know whether or not I had wings.
It’s all set in stone now.

Pull out my teeth and call me hungry. Figure out
what I could stomach. Find me ringed around the
others, we died together, we died together.

I don't think it'd be that bad. We are heavy
already, at least we can sleep in history
at least then I can get some god damn rest.

I'm asking the earth to settle me. My bones
are tired. I want to bea part of this world,
but I don’t want it to hurt anymore.

Prayer

By Anne Peterson, Contributor

Smooth sails the bird
Whispered song
Silent
Brushed brown
and soft
tapping claws
And wait
No wait
Hushed murmur
Soft whisper
Wandering wooded path
Blue splashed green
Grey halls
pillared walls
Cathedral calm
And washed
Wet green
prey green
Shaded halls dark
and silent
Choral break high
rushed low
Swept up yellow
Deep brown breath
Breathe
And breathe