Dustbowl Dancehall

Poetry
Written By KD Hack

Today my body is 
a country of roads 
both gravel & grass, 
of kicked up dirt dancing 
like no one is looking 
because they can’t see me
through clouds, clad in dust.

Yesterday my body was 
a bellyful of cream & sugar, 
singing sad songs 
as loudly as they liked. 

Would you believe me 
if I told you
my voice is changing?  

Would you relieve me
of the burdens I’m dragging 
behind me, an erstwhile wagon 
with three wheels, each a smidge 
squeaky & none as smooth as 
her tongue tangled in mine?

Under a Full Moon 
my body was 
a triple-word score 
dripping in sweat 
& somehow saltier 
than you’d think.

Under a New Moon 
I asked for someone 
like God to give me 
a break, to offer me 
a sip of something 
that might quench 
this thirst for more.

Somehow it’s still hard 
not to wonder what kind 
of country won’t cradle 
a body like mine.

KD Hack

KD Hack (they/he) is a Queer/Trans poet, editor, facilitator, death worker & dirt fag. His artistic practices were nourished across the Northwoods of Wisconsin, & reside in the spaces between fingers in the soil & pencils on the page. When they aren't writing or covered in soil, they bake for their beloveds & teach two step/line dancing to their community. His work can be found in Peach Fuzz, Fruitslice, Querencia Press, Transfix Mag, & South Broadway Press, among others.

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