This is a song for the body that crumbles,
that does not fear its own enfeebling.
In one life you had a great ass.
There are bones beneath it.
This is a song for the mostly-obedient
body. The shaking foot that lifts.
Children guard other children walking
to school. Oh, beautiful crossing guards,
this is a song for the orange vests flapping
against your small bodies, uninflated
life jackets, for the stop signs you hold up
like torches as you wade into the street.
This is a song for the body protected,
the body desired, the body melting away.
From: https://www.splitlipmagazine.com/14-hannah-stephenson
Date: 2015
By: Hannah Stephenson (19??- )