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but if you go too soon

Posted on 12.13.19 by Alison Cantrell

Poetry by Joann Renee Boswell

I have made space for you.

s o .          m u c h .          s  p  a  c  e .

each night spooning
the perimeter deeper,
scooping away more
nonessential me.

carefully contoured
my jigsaw-heart
to your shape.
we slide so simply
in place, like kismet,
the ease of flawless
triple axles, appearing
effortless despite
constant Kondo-ing,
keeping all the best
of me, donating excess
(joyful self-farewells
make room for you).

there is  nospace
between us.
this is Love.

but if you go too soon,
how long will your form  l i n g e r ,
g  a  p  i  n  g   my soul
vacant?               your space,
a   V  A  C  U  U  M   roaring.


Joann Renee Boswell is a teacher, mother, photographer, and poet currently living in Camas, Washington, with her spouse and three children. Joann loves rainy days filled with coffee, books, hand-holding, moody music, and sci-fi shows. Some places she’s been published include Untold Volumes, Voices of Eve, Western Friend, and Mothers Always Write. Her first book of poetry is expected May 2020 through Fernwood Press.

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