appealing

The Maynard
Spring 2018

Adrienne Gruber
0:00
 
 

Push

Everything is found in before
and after it and she
her grandmother’s face
cheeks plump nests
for eggs smooth stones
everything is found in
her mouth
curved shell screams
sticky clam-scented curls
everything is found
swallows of sobs
chin creases fat rolls
speechlessness
everything is pushed
the planet through
rigid pelvis
everything explodes
pressure of being
galaxy shifts
time pirouettes
our next one will
be adopted
eight cheerleaders
pom-poms high in the air
fingers tickle cauliflower bulge
of scalp shear glass-cutting
clit-splitting of her crown
push with the body
back with your hands
the planet erupts
into palms her body
hers already
frog-legged
hair slicked in waves
against a funneled head
                                        daughter.
Everything is found
in new light. Every small
thing new.