[67 words]
a body speaks in fabric we are born w e t a n d n a k e d, d e v o u r i n g clouds from a raven sky a body takes-in S e l f b y m u s l i n template, pinned to dressform, reaching for t h r e a d . a b o d y i s m a d e i n p a r t s u n f i t . b a r e d, a b o d y i s w a n t - ed, a f u g i t i v e, a c r i m i n a l i n bloom, a paper doll—caught, f o l d e d, d a r t e d, s i l h o u e t t e destroyed by rain or m e m o r y v e i l e d , a b o d y. f o r m s a n a v a i l a b l e s p a c e
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.
