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Faith McNaughton


 

my alarm is going off and i feel

 

like i could           stay          here forever

my eternal resting spot              in this blanket

drinking           in the music

of early         construction,

thanking myself

for opening              the window,

the cold washing in,

hammer and nail,

footsteps                 in grass,

shouting nextdoor,

in a lullaby of                                                                     late morning

drowning out the

chirping           alarm clock,

and i    drown

in it, too.


 

tell me please

 

do you hear the glass shattering again

fist turned to open palm                            bleeding in

marbles                               breathing in drywall dust

that is                  soft and fine and it is light

and                            when i watch it                 settle

the hand                  the wall               the flower vase

still                         dare                   to melt to nothing

    and again

amplify                  echo       sing       the crashing and

burning                  shining                    it is the sun so

i will be the moon, the flames                  so         clear

from up high i       could                            walk through

coming out unscathed                           as you see me

as we hear the crackling                   head under pillow

Goodnight                Goodnight           leave and shout

to where?                                                     Goodnight

to the burn of                 screeching tires           burn of

kitchen table dinners, where we                        used to

have a fruit bowl                                                where?

Goodnight

 

 


Faith McNaughton is part of the Class of 2023 at Rutgers, majoring in sociology and minoring in creative writing. Her hometown is Medford, NJ, where Luna, her dog and favorite artistic collaborator resides.