A new poem by Auckland poet Amber Esau.

Elemental

without a hairy belly they call me woman
so I pull my top down, tits out the head-hole
and promise lips filled with hibiscus

and wisteria climbing balconies for baskets
pastel lungs split amongst its leaves
a little Mons power in the bloom

of sunlight carving shapes into branches
before green, it all spoils soon
the stiff rotted bits nodding at me from the mirror.

without a ‘stache I am more woman
so I pinch and pull to a glowing stretch
the awa of aitu—damn—the flash shadow

slipping on algae rocks in the low tidal foam
jagged water; brittle nails: piercing
the thigh just above the knee, hoisted up

amongst the scales swimming, koi in a bathtub
whiskers longer than their fins
and a dull razor head bobbing in the clear.

The Friday Poem is edited by Chris Tse. Submissions are currently closed and will open again soon.