Available Space by Shannon Cates

[67 words]

a body speaks in  fabric
we are born wet and naked,  
devouring clouds from a raven sky
a body takes-in Self by muslin
template, pinned to
dressform, reaching for
thread. a body
is made in parts unfit.
bared, a body is want-
ed, a fugitive, a criminal in
bloom, a paper doll—caught,
folded, darted, silhouette
destroyed by rain or memory
veiled, a body forms an
available space

Author’s Note: This image shows a poem formatted in the shape of a dress. The poem explores themes of the body, clothing, and space, with the lines arranged to mimic a garment’s form.


Shannon Cates, a UX designer living in Annapolis, Maryland, finds comfort in rainy days and the written word. When not crafting digital experiences, she’s immersed in poetry, often with her cat by her side. Her work has been published in Humana Obscura, Emerge Literary Journal, and Bodega Magazine among other journals.

Image Credit

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