the heartbeats in the room
have mostly disappeared but
this patch of forest is mine to give you
to my sons
it’s been whole lemons & strawberries
having such little bodies
to dedicate my time to
all our baths
pink calamine like dalmatian spots
your growing into ankles
i hope you recall your childhood
as watercolors out back
as long hair being combed through
to my daughter
you are cool light
before the sun dies
(o how i revere you!)
how you take your earthen feet
crawl your way up my bare legs
to my stomach to my chest
when we are face to face
you rub my head with honeyed hands
give me a quick kiss before climbing bigger trees
darlings, would you believe me if i told you
that i’ve stretched my arms
so long
to hold you throughout
that i was born pregnant
with the very vision of
you
__________________________________
From fox woman get out! by India Lena González. Copyright © 2023. Available from BOA Editions, Ltd.
India Lena Gonzalez
India Lena González is a poet, editor, and multidisciplinary artist. She received her BA from Columbia University and her MFA from NYU’s Creative Writing Program. Her work is published or forthcoming in American Chordata, The Brooklyn Review, Glass: A Journal of Poetry, Harvard Review, Lampblack, PANK, Pigeon Pages, and Poetry Northwest, among others. fox woman get out! (BOA Editions) is her debut poetry collection. India is also a professionally trained dancer, choreographer, and actor and has had the pleasure of performing at Lincoln Center, the Kennedy Center, St. Mark’s Church, 92nd Street Y, La Mama, New York Live Arts, and other such venues.
