must i

Katrina Kaye

i stayed up
too late

nursing wounds
that can’t be seen

the rising sun is sharp
in the window

beckoning

for two hours
i linger

hidden in bed frame
and cotton sheets

skin tight

too many exposed nerves
not enough backbone

i want to
stay pinned

butterfly to board
preserved in
my solemnity

it is too much
to ask

must i rise
again

“must i” is previously published in Rabbits for Luck (2016).

Poetry Prompt: Animal Guides

This morning I saw a coyote and two roadrunners on my morning run, and since I am not one to deny fate, it seemed like a good spark for writing.

For today’s prompt: What animals are appearing to you today? What might they symbolize? What message might they carry? Why do you think they appeared to you? Try to look beyond the animals you see daily (pets, ants, etc), and see what unexpected creature may appear.