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If I knew then what I know now,
Would I have trembled when the earthquake
Liquified the crust beneath my
twin sized bed or
If I knew then what I know now,
Would I have crushed
chrysanthemums to a fine pulp or
gathered wasp carcasses until the sun blinded
me like the burning bush?
Would I crouch between the duality of
woman king and wet nurse?
Would I bravely await my red hot branding,
Solid pinprick iron rich–
If I knew then what I know now,
Would I have winced when you breathed through my body
Cyclical womb tunneling pink flesh to flesh?
Did you stop to wave goodbye,
trading this world for the next?
ashley pugh
Velvetmother
author bio
Ashley Pugh is a poet and aspiring photojournalist based in El Paso, Texas. In her spare time, she runs a vintage pop-up shop and volunteers at a women's rehabilitation center.
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