Two Poems
Rachel Kass
Piano Concerto no. 32 In D minor
Âindentations of a face barely visible vs. ultra clear visions of your abuser. both wait for you to fall asleep, take a lateral loss, long hair snaking soap water dull now darling suck sweeping honey careening eyelid suckling call me if you can if you can
Sonata No.10
in the basement again
The tacks were on the floor,
their primary colors
polka dotting the sole of my prepubescent foot
I'm pressing ice cubesÂ
Hard as I canÂ
down on my wristsÂ
though he doesnât seem to think
This is a safety plan.
his absenceÂ
a hissing frying pan
Too sensitive, he always said
White dancersâ tights, tear striped.
my nervous systemÂ
exposedÂ
touching airÂ
can be so violent
even silent noise sounds like a chainsaw
that white ticking murmur of knowingÂ
this moment can exist in any year of your lifeÂ
I can't stop thinking of the tacks.
They are in our bread
Those who have killed us.
Rachel Kass is a writer and kindergarten teacher in Connecticut. Her work can be found in Hotel #5, Bomb Magazine, Maudlin House and more. Say hello on Twitter or Instagram @rhamphoid.
