“Poetess” by Heather Haley

Gin limber, she lies on her tummy
contorting sentences under the lava
lamp. No room in the final note
for a litany. No space
for a nervous breakdown.
Corner-painted. Mother bashed.
Apron-strung. Quirks cosseted,
she conspires like a murderess
to pull a Plath, to stick her head
into the oven, not another bun.

Not another word. Let the loud
print dress do all the talking.

(Heather is a Canadian poetess, writer, and performance artist. Previously at Hemingway’s Shotgun, Heather has contributed Three Blocks West of Wonderland.)