Measure Twice by Kat Kline - The Metaworker Literary Magazine

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graphic imagery: surgery

Collage made of magazine clippings, stickers and hand-written words. The largest, central image is a black and white photograph of a surgery, with blood-spattered, gloved hands holding medical tools working on an open incision. Beneath, there is a blue, monochrome photograph depicting two people holding hands with their backs facing the viewer. In the upper right, there is an image of clouds against a blue sky, with the cloud tops and horizon tinged pink and yellow. Pasted on top of all of these are cutout strips of text, both printed and hand-written, on white paper. They are aligned with the lefthand edge of the collage, and read, in order, as such: What is it about becoming? And why does it hurt? A violent impact between things. You return to explore a limitless expanse within - but this limitlessness is short-lived when you factor in rage, invective, sorrow, reason - the great tailor does not cut. But I am no tailor. The woman who gave me the courage to cleave is long gone. Only our scars and I remain, hand in hand.

Collage made of magazine clippings, stickers, written word, and book on repurposed cardboard.

Kat Kline (they/he) is a full-time psychotherapist and part-time piscine cryptid, but has collected and gotten decent at enough hobbies to qualify as a ‘full-time dabbler’ (i.e. knitting, foraging, film criticism of questionable merit). His work has been accepted for publication in Last Girls Club and Genrepunk Magazine, as well as a June 2026 anthology by Beyond Queer Words. If they’re not collaging, writing, working, running, or making magic, you can likely find them frolicking outdoors or at the cineplex with friends – just look for the red cowboy boots.

**PLEASE NOTE: This artwork is copyright of the artist. If you wish to use their artwork, please contact them to obtain specific usage rights PRIOR to using their art, and always give proper attribution.**

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