Sarah St Vincent Welch #3 After

After

my son and I talk of bones
skulls
after looking at Warhol's

I've thought skulls bad luck
to wear for a child
a doubtful dubious fashion
tempting

Andy's memento mori
were truthful
beautiful
as large as they should be

I can see my skeleton
in a moment
I examine it by memory
models, 3D renderings
scans and fingertips
x-rays
searching for this pain
its origin
every errant ridge and crack
this imperfect armature
inflamed
poorly threaded
wearing away

exhuming flesh
puppet body
I felt my bones open in birth
within
I feel them wrenched
shrinking