the babe I had
in another life grew beneath the tree
where I grieve under a thumb of sun
she rose in dirt and dry leaves triumphant
little burgeon trumpeting from rot she bit
my tongue scraped colour from my cheek the end
of my life creeping along her lips like sweat her face
in bloom eye to eye with the full moon above
where I dissolve in the earth
in her place
Helen Nancy Meneilly is an Irish poet whose work explores issues of identity, language, and womanhood. She is currently studying for her MA in Creative Writing through the Open University. Her poetry is forthcoming from Eunoia Review, as well as recently featured in Autumn Sky Poetry Daily, Antonym Magazine and Poet’s Choice.
