We ran that first summer
Mom’s room was empty
We didn’t know what else to do
so we closed the door behind us
Ran out the gate and raced
against the sunrise
We took on neighboring towns
chased the cars up and down Queens Blvd
Foreheads baked calves ached
blood filled our faces as we stomped the sidewalk
I thought about the words that made me
second guess how I felt about my body
After all this time I decided to run
like a flying paper bird a flightless living bird
When it was over
the air turned crisp again
I left the ceiling plants alone
I wore a size up again
There is such a thing
as too much sun and dehydration
Those vines slowed each day
a dull brown spread to their roots
June July August
It is September again
It is your birthday and the dry bones
are hanging off the floating soil
they crunch in the warmth of my fingers–
dull and hollow stems
I don’t know if more water will work
or if it’s too late to save them
Alexa Dayoan is a poet and recent graduate from CCNY’s MFA Creative Writing program. She sings for her church, self-publishes her poetry and collages, and hosts collage parties from home. Her artwork has been published by Four Three Three, and this is her first poetry publication.
