by Adesiyan Oluwapelumi

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     after Lucille Clifton

i am no longer my body’s fossil
                   i revise the body

glaze the floorboards of tongue
with whiter tiles

                          cut the bushgreen-
goatee of worry
and make into hay
for wild dogs

the dogs’ hunger
lit like a candle

it is a blessed thing to be a blessing

              to be a beautiful metaphor
whitewashed in another’s mouth
of canine

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Adesiyan Oluwapelumi, TPC XI, is a medical student, poet, essayist & Poetry Editor of Fiery Scribe Review from Nigeria. He & his works are featured in The Republic, 20.35 Africa, Isele Magazine, A Long House, Brittle Paper, Fantasy Magazine, Poet Lore, Tab Journal, Poetry Wales & elsewhere.

Kingcup is a friend of the magazine.