Bones

This poem first appeared in Grund 13 (ed. R. D. Lewis)

After he left,

the skin of my torso

shrink-wrapped my ribs.

My spine rose

to my back’s surface

in little waves.

Shadows hung

around my eyes

in crescent moons.

My hair grew pressed

against my skull.

My lips grew pale,

and fell away in flakes.

Before the mirror,

I stood astonished.

Until my curves

bloomed full once more,

and I grew back

into myself.