She will bring me gifts
teeth and black licorice lips cradling some
bird
with hollow bones and lay
it
in my lap
unscathed, if confused and
covered in a little spit
See? I am gentle. I can be gentle. she says
and I will hope
she thinks I am gentle
too
may I
give my dog my every pizza crust
her teeth and black licorice lips
will tear it like mine do and
we will be something
like each other
even if her
jaw
is
gentler
let me hold
her face
in my hands
let me
cradle it
all bowling-ball heavy
and golden warm
mouth that carries birds without
breaking
and I will
carry gifts
between my teeth.
Writer | Lila Schlissel ’27 | lschlissel27@amherst.edu
Editor | Ruth Zuraw ’25 | rzuraw25@amherst.edu
Artist | Kateryna Havryshchuk ’26 | khavryshchuk26@amherst.edu
