Inside this body, I have two. No, three. I’m still counting.
Inside this body, I have alphabetized two hundred and fourteen (plus or minus) bodies, birthed out of books out of words multiplying into more words, crafting enough bones to hold me up for days at a time.
Inside this body, I speech about pronouns and water. I remove every vein from beneath skin to sew into a tightrope for others to reach me.
Inside this body, splinters from the trees I’ve made love to. I’ve got shagbark and shellbark pulling at my shape with stretched branches.
Inside this body, a dialogue with freedom.
Inside this body, screams to wake the dead.
Inside this body, several long stories and a personal essay with fifteen pages of footnotes.
Inside this body, a love triangle featuring poetry, prose and musical notes.
Inside this body, an understanding of light fixtures and renewal.
Inside this body, a literal interpretation of every crack I’ve jumped over or squashed. Here, is where I focus my map. The map of behind me and what is yet to be trekked.
Aimee Herman 