A daily reading from One Poem Only—a quiet space for a single poem, read aloud.

Nine Novembers Later

Erin Zarro

TW: Violence

Nine Novembers later

You plucked flowers from my mouth and

weaved them into a crown

You sang me into submission and

we made beautiful music together

but in the morning, you didn't remember my name.

When I wanted to leave you, you gave me sunlight,

promised me forever,

slid a dagger through my spine.

When you sucked the light from my bones,

I cried, and you sewed my tears to my face

in silence that burns

In darkness, you fed me wildflowers and pain.

I will gather my bones and I will rise

I will shine heavenly light through my empty eye sockets

You will never touch my bones again.

Originally written in Esperanto.

More from Erin Zarro ↓

• @erinzpoetry on Instagram
• Her chapbooks, Life as a Moving Target, and Without Wings are available now

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