Katrina Kaye

he changed
my name, mother

he painted my
hair red and left
my skin to pale
hidden from the
childish strokes
of the sun

with mother’s strings
no longer to bind me
I found a comfort in the
shadow of his kindness

for three months
I hid in the back rooms
knowing full well
the sun was shinning

mother,
did you realize
this ripening fruit was
unplucked

In your absence

I fell from vine

“Cora” is previously published in the Black Poppy Review (2021).