The man, whose phrase translates
to my grammar if not my custom,
reassures me literally,
Author: Alphabet Ravine
Lydia Rae Bush (she/her) is a poet exploring themes of embodiment and social-emotional development. Her work is Best of the Net nominated and can be found in publications such as Corporeal, Querencia Press, and Bleating Thing. Her chapbook Free Bleeding is out now with dogleech books.
Skinny
Dip with me into the lakes,
immersed in murky water, which covers
how far we
have yet to go.
Trust Displace
If I have said the truth permitted and nothing but the truth permitted,
have you seen, in my navigation of social convention,
my honesty? My openness?
wonder
One of those rare, precious wonders
that makes you want to be alive
for eternity,
for a moment—
Adaptation
Strong and small and fragile and soft,
and always still standing-
#ally #enlightened
The stranger said, “My name is Ken.
What can I ask the god of the universe for, for you?”
I said, “I need my husband to land a job
that pays some bills while preserving his health.”
Ken said, “You don’t understand your plight
as a woman in our sexist world-
Opportunity
I can do
anything,
but sometimes I do
nothing,
Vegas, baby
My face flashes from grimacing to batting lashes,
from hope to fear, from please to thanks,
to challenging, to I
Flagrant
Topless with the windows open.
Dramatic Flair
Life’s a beef stew,
and what’s a better way
to show what the flavor of a mixture
boils down to
Alphabet Ravine 