Undone, Undress - Marika Hackman

Here’s my body, I am undone

Let them have me, let them come

Blue beaks aching, flesh forsake me

Only bones for the hunter’s gun

Load me heavy, I can’t bend

Break me better, so I won’t mend

The forest murmurs

'Careful creatures

She’ll be gone when the master comes'

They heard my heart for miles

The air inside

Was seeping out

In silent shouts

It crumpled in my chest

Let’s undress

I don’t want you to heal me

Rather, take this broke machine

Hold me close, this beast of burden

Hide and skin in the morning light

I’ll be here when you can’t breathe

Waiting, patient, silently