9 September 2006 | Vol. 6, No. 3
our lady of anemia
She begins with tiny spoons and screws. Swallows safety pins and penny nails by the dozen. Paperclips, thumbtacks, saltshaker tops. The doctors say it's dire, prescribe lithium and fresh air. Her mother cries and brings cake. Last week, they pulled a watch from her stomach, still ticking. Wrapped her tight in white, wet sheets until her skin grew soft, amphibious. Every morning is clear and bright. Every morning she spits dimes into the sink. Her nightgowns, drafty, ravaged by openings. After all, a girl has too many holes as it is. Things are bound to fall through once in a while.
About the author:
Kristy Bowen's work has appeared recently in Rhino, Cranky, and Diagram, and is forthcoming in Swink and Columbia Poetry Review. She lives in Chicago, where she edits the online zine wicked alice and runs dancing girl press, which publishes chapbooks by women authors. She is the author of two forthcoming collections, the fever almanac (Ghost Road Press, 2006) and feign (New Michigan Press, 2007).
For further reading:
See the complete list of work by Kristy Bowen at 42opus. Browse the contents of 42opus Vol. 6, No. 3, where "our lady of anemia" ran on September 9, 2006. List other work with these same labels: poetry, prose poem.
