DSM Folklore

Zoe Cheng Pinto

I HAD NO FACE AND THEREFORE NO MOUTH TO OPEN AND THE SCREAMING HAD STOPPED BUT MY HEART KEPT ON MARCHING WITHOUT MY BREATHING PORES AND I HAD NO FACE AND THEREFORE NO NAME TO SPEAK ALOUD ON THE CORNER BUT THE WOMAN SPOKE IT FOR ME SO I WAS LEFT TO DISSOLVE ALONE AND I HAD NO FACE AND THEREFORE NO YESES WERE TAKEN FROM ME BUT GIFT GIVING SEASON HAD BEGUN SO I TOOK OFF MY FINGERS AS CARROTS AND I HAD NO FACE AND THEREFORE NO PAINT LET THEIR HOUSES DRY IN THE CRACKS BUT MY SIDEWALKS GREW HOLES SO ONE SHOE WAS LEFT DANGLING ON THE ENERGY LINE AND I HAD NO FACE AND THEREFORE NO INK TIPPED STAINS TO DECIFER WHILE DRYING  BUT THE LAUNDRY WAS WAITING WITH THE QUILTS HER HANDS  CRIED SO SHE LAID DOWN ON  TRACKS THE TRAIN HAD ABANDONED AND I HAD NO FACE AND THEREFORE NO CREVICES FOR THE ANTS TO BURROW BETWEEN BUT A LONE QUEEN IS ONLY RED THREAD SO THE HONEY DRIPPED NEW FORTUNES ONTO THE COUNTER.

I HAD NO FACE                    AND

 THERE  E   E              FORE                       NO                                       BUT

SO        SO            SO                SO     S              O                    NO    BUT                                 AND

 NO                              SO                      AND                                AND                                     AND

I HAD…

This poem is part of a collection of pieces that will be published on the blog through April and May 2025 leading to the release of Bombay Gin Literary Journal Issue #49, in the strangler fig.