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You are at:Home»MER VOX»Poetry»Nicole Brooks – Poetry

Nicole Brooks – Poetry

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By Mom Egg Review on December 14, 2022 Poetry

Nicole Brooks

 

The Mother Speaks

I shrink to a diamond
My daughter palms. I’m squat
As the littlest Russian doll.

She relishes my dispersion
Of light, holds me to the
Morning sun. Secures me

In a golden ring’s claws,
Bands her broken love
Vein, marrying my pain. I

Weigh on her hand. She
Springs me from the prongs,
Clicks me into a locket

Worn against her chest.
It is too much.
She hot glues me

To a magnet. A day of
Holding coupons
Fast to the fridge —

She sees it is wrong.
Places me in the Black
Forest cuckoo clock.

Wooden tick until the
Caw. Her friends question
Her cradling the carved

Time piece, swaddled
In a sweater or scarf. She
Sings dear mother, dear

Mother. A steady mark.
Again she sets me free,
Forgets me

Around the house like
Keys. I offer her heat,
I separate white light

Into spectrum. She tucks
Me under the bed sheet.
I leave marbled bruise

Trails on her breasts,
Knees, in her thrashing
Against me. Dawn finds her

Digging in the tangle.
In a cold rain she throws me
Down the well. Empty

Clatter. From here
I tell you this story.
I’ve done it. I’m clear.

 

Back to Mother Folk

Nicole Brooks is a writer and editor in Lafayette, Indiana. Her poems have appeared in Minola Review, The Indianapolis Review, Barren Magazine, and Anti-Heroin Chic. She earned her MFA in poetry from Butler University, and served as poetry editor of Booth. Read more at nicolekbrooks.com.

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