Jawbone, Ribcage by Emily Holman

Jawbone, Ribcage

I

Split

[The chord of my brain as it connects to] [] [my spine snaps; thoughts gone, gone] Myself

Apart,

[My spine snaps, a snare trap of my own] [] [melancholy design, hospitalized within] From

Underneath

[Profound enchantments, spellike words,] [] [if I even am who I say I am; beginnings] My

Jaw,

[Entrails, tingling numbness, bleeding] [] [hearts, beating to an eerie chanting] Tearing

My

[I shake a bony hand; where is your skin?] [] [disintegration, if I fall apart entirely] Tongue

In

[A heavenly blue pours out of me, exhaust] [] [by formalities, by ritualistic movements] Two,

To

[Autopsied, on a cold silver table, open] [] [and spoon-fed wild herbs and potions]

Expose

My

[Breathe in; the cold air fills my lungs] [] [up to its ballooned capacity, now warm]

Humanity,

Revealing

[Thrums and thralls of an otherworldly] [] [power, disembodied voices call to me] Worms

And

[Who puzzle-pieced me together before,] [] [assembling lamb for slaughter, for god?] Rot

And

[No longer made of metal, jellied eyes] [] [leap from my skull. I can grow again.] Blood.