What Grief Likes

By Emily Hannah

1
caretake the lost causes, a mother’s legacy

the healthy ones count their crackers to be seen

2
ladies cross at their ankles in Chapel Hill

their men wear what they wear and we all

close our mouths when we smile our fuck you’s

3
i could get my dad to do anything for me as long as i didn’t cry

and when my mom sits on fitting room benches, she asks

do you feel beautiful -

i stare in store mirrors & say yes

4
a college freshman with mono over winter break sleeps next to her mom

in a king sized bed and shits fleece pajamas in the middle of the night.

quietly cleans up, changes, gets back in bed so no one needs to worry about her

5
we find my grandpa dead on a sunday, it’s his 80th birthday (and mother’s day). the paper

at his front door reads wednesday. my dad describes the smell, walks us to the elevator.

i watch them wheel him out in pouring rain & my brother does not cry. i am 9 years old.

6
my high school boyfriend will talk to me again, he told my best friend

if i can stop being such a cold bitch, my best friend tells me

7
my brother and i are little as he counts each one of my toes

he calls me miss piggy with his little lisp & i laugh endlessly

we float, float, we float & stay here forever

Emily's early work explored heartbreak & longing - she was 7 years old at the time. Since then, she has continued to tuck her whole heart into written word in any way possible.

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