Life and Limb by Hannah Stephenson

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??- )