Neon Mariposa Magazine
Stasis by Elisabeth Horan
One finger.
One finger in the dark
Enters. Does
Wonders. Finds
Stasis. Finds
Water. Makes.
New, old reservoirs.
One tongue. I’ve
Wondered, could I do
What a miracle claims, make
Seismic my hips, make quake
Tremble membranes, hip.
To heel
Brain to toe,
And words spill
Ah, oh.
They mean little except
For a gnashing. A status quo.
What I mean is that your finger feels
Like an impregnating of my skin
It's quick, silvery, like a little fish
Uncatchable
she's too quick.
She's un-killable
Net her, keep her close
Run your finger down her spinal
Column. Hold her by her lower jaw
See the red innards
Feels her ribs fight for you sir
Her air is your parade sir
Knock her out before u eat her.
Don't eat her alive.
Even if it is your will.
One bite.
Finger the flesh.
It's light now.
It's water.
It's wet
A slippery mess
You do what you do.
Find stasis.
Be full.
Elisabeth Horan is an imperfect creature from Vermont advocating for animals, children and those suffering alone and in pain - especially those ostracized by disability and mental illness. She is Editor in Chief at Animal Heart Press, and Co-Editor at Ice Floe Press. She has several chaps and collections out at Bone & Ink Press, Fly on the Wall Press, Twist It Press, Rhythm and Bones Press, Cephalo Press, and Animal Heart Press. Her newest collections: Just to the Right of the Stove, with Hedgehog Poetry Press, and Alcoholic Betty, with Fly on the Wall Poetry Press are forthcoming in 2020. She is a poetry mentor to many up and coming brilliant poets, and proud momma to Peter and Thomas. She recently earned her MA from SNHU, and her MFA from Lindenwood University. She is a 2018 Pushcart Nominee and a 2018 and 2019 Best of Net Nominee.