Hold for a Count, by Jessi MacEachern

 

I am down on all fours
and nuzzling the matted fur
of my enemy. It is my drooling
self. An obscene picture
last night’s drunken moon. 

I have been thinking
of my circumstances
the six bookcases weighed down
intermittent sadness, intermittent happiness,
and (newly)
fatness. 

To move slightly to the left
where the light creates the staggering shadow
a giant woman like I aspire to be
pull the woman by the breasts
seven gusts of wind. To move slightly to the right
where the blood pour gives way to the worm body
release the pelvic floor
seven gusts of wind. 

I have been met
by the striking white dog
who eventually growls at all of us.
We are not unique.

 

 

 

Jessi MacEachern, born in Epekwitk/Prince Edward Island, currently lives in Tiohtià:ke/Montréal, where she teaches English literature. She is a poet, professor, and scholar of contemporary feminist poetics. Her second poetry collection Cut Side Down will be released by Invisible in April 2025.