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By Mai Der Vang

From a recessed hollow
Rumble, I unearth as a creature


Conceived to be relentless.
Depend on me to hunt you


Until you find yourself
Counting all the uncorked


Nightmares you digested.
I will let you know the burning


Endorsed by the effort of
Matches. And you will claw


Yourself inward, toward a
Conference of heat as the steam


Within you surrenders, caves
You into a cardboard scar.


Even what will wreck you
Are your mother’s chapped lips.


Even to drip your confession
Of empty rooms. I know about


Your recipe of rain, your apiary
Ways. Trust me to be painful.


Source: Poetry (July 2017)

  • Living

Poet Bio

Mai Der Vang
Mai Der Vang is the author of Yellow Rain (Graywolf Press, 2021) and Afterland (Graywolf Press, 2017). See More By This Poet

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