10 of 22

Poetry: Skin

by Sahara Stirling

WARM TO THE BODIES

sneak a peak - see that girl.
don't listen to her,
watch her laugh:

(body: violent, convulsing
bones snapping from the effort

hands: carefully running
tracing the metal rods of the fence)

see? see her skin?
no scar is an imperfection.

(raised
and pink,
a crescent moon
on the side of her back.)
...who did she love enough to keep so close?

"let's take the time to be permanent,
let's be rough, let's leave marks."

nothing captures imprints like skin.
photographs are hollow. photographs tear.
skin tears, but skin also breathes.

Helium, Inc.
200 Brickstone Square Andover, MA 01810 USA