Katrina Kaye

Allow body release
from the weight
of the last few months.

Insides crave to be carved
free from that which binds.

Feel skin loosen.
Bone peak through
what dares remain.

Tonight, the sunset serves witness
to this request. Not for rebirth,
not for pledging anew,
but as a break to the mold.

Three days is all that is needed
to take the thickness of torso,
grounding of muscle, and shake loose.

Allow healing,

even if not complete,
even if only to prepare
for the next cut.

Break unconscious acts while
there is still time for forgiveness.

In three days, the body will refresh,
like creek water on sunny morning,
like the sound of screen door swaying open.

In three days,
the patterns will break.

May new ones form in their wake.

“Three Days” is previously published in Saturday’s Sirens (2020) and “no longer water” (2024).