"when i was a girl i was
dirty feet and scraped knuckles."

the wolf that cried mother

"i have wanted to hurt someone 
the right way, too."

you finally showed me your bones

"the only thing you ever wanted me to be good at
was loving you, and i couldn’t even manage that."

(from "inheritance", winner of the Saints+Sinners annual competition for a collection of poetry.)

trauma noise

"your body is eating itself alive
and i am wondering why i haven't started crying."

(from "inheritance", winner of the Saints+Sinners annual competition for a collection of poetry.)

m(othering)

"your mother only lives five minutes away
but you miss her more than that."

(from "inheritance", winner of the Saints+Sinners annual competition for a collection of poetry.)

poem for things that do not exist

"you look so sad when you see me–
i would know, i have your eyes."

(from "inheritance", winner of the Saints+Sinners annual competition for a collection of poetry.)

i.a. burke

Selected work