alfie lee writing

Strength

Greatgrandmother
was a temple
medium, sharp
shout tongue, possessed

of seeing-eye
and wild dance trance.
The other was
a widow, a

farmer, single-
handed giver,
smelled of washcloths
and baking suns.

They kept things to-
gether, kept things
running, kept the
men, kept the kids

in school, kept ask-
ing for grandsons,
kept at arm's length,
hard luck, harm, at

hand, protection.
I call upon
you two, women
of my blood, save

me from my own
undoing, hold
me in the death
grip of your arms,

whip me out of
my person, peel
me of my skin,
fill me, make me

come, you old cunts,
and finish off
whatever the
fuck you've begun.



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