Don’t get up so early, my love. I am not your mother
but I will take you by the hand and undo you.
Unwet the towel. Unroll it and leave it hanging
by the sink. Let them all sleep, with their sickle moon
eyelids, with their small collections of newly formed
thoughts. Drop your cut-ruby jewellery. Let yourself waken
into the pristine cold of midwinter. Here, sit by the kitchen
window. Breathe the freshly sliced air. Forget your goodbyes.
Nikki Magennis is a writer and artist from Scotland. Her first pamphlet is forthcoming from Red Squirrel Press in 2014.