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no woman's land

Poetry

bless the blood no one can see highest rankings: #1 in poembook #1 in thoughtsandfeelings #1 in personal #1 in freeverse © z. t. corley, 2023

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THESE POEMS GROW TEETH AT NIGHT

146 15 15

by UNWILTED

by UNWILTED

(After June Jordan)

these poems
were born
in Babylon

these poems
were swaddled
in blood

these poems
grow teeth
at night

these poems
gnaw at me
like termites

these poems
will not shimmer
will not salvage
will not seduce—

but strike fast
like a machete
or a bullet
or a stone
hurled by Cain.

these poems
will wound
will cauterize
will abrade

these poems
will leave
a mark