Philomela’s hoard
my mouth hides holds
stifled acid
tangle & ground-worked
dark flints
liturgy past carnage
grit-ready as the grave
before it has swallowed
the ready-to-be-held
body
this mouth bides bolds
praise & pebble
adamantine
amethyst
while tongue-less
earth allows anterooms
& sleeps keepswounds words
I may not speak
Jeri Theriault’s collections include Radost, my red (Moon Pie Press) and the award-winning In the Museum of Surrender (Encircle Publications). Her poems and reviews have appeared in journals such as: The American Journal of Poetry, The Rumpus, The Texas Review and The Collagist.A 2019 Maine Literary Award winner, Jeri lives in South Portland, ME. jeritheriault.com
