Girl, 11

By Jonterri Gadson
A mouth is a sideways woman,
her curves and dips, the way she opens,
how her hollow center can sing.

Mother, your mouth
is a fallen cello,

your husband's hands—
a casket. Full of me. 

Copyright Credit: Jonterri Gadson, "Girl, 11" from Blues Triumphant.  Copyright © 2016 by Jonterri Gadson.  Reprinted by permission of YesYes Books.