I Said Bones
Amy Parkes
the women in my family
we all have them my mother said
to the doctor on the left side
one extra bone in the orchestra
of the foot my mother pointed
to the gift she gave me
& not my broken places
don’t touch
that I’ve said
How many times have
I said to you
that weekend in girlhood I broke most
my toes here said the doctor look at her
crushed parts look at the backs of my hands
my mother ignored what my body committed
without her she showed the doctor
the uneven lump & one thumb strange
tilted & ugly gaze my mother has
better things to do even when
I construct her in thin air & hurt
How many times
How many times have
I told you
have I
how are you feeling says the doctor
but that question is never for my fractures
I turn to my mother & she evaporates
so I look hard at the maps of my feet
projected overhead tilted wings moth-delicate
light-drawn & it’s easy to forgive
the bone moth for burning itself alive &
then trying again I am strungwild between
lapsed prescriptions & my mother
said what have I
I’ve told you I said
How many times
have I said
the doctor shines a penlight
in rhythm over my pupils & I
16
Cauldron Anthology