Small Mammal

By Lindsay Rockwell

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Each loss fits inside the others. 
Each loss folds itself 

neatly inside, then quietly 
clears its throat of shame.

Holds its eyes up toward day 
as my eyelashes dust the floor

again. Again, I count my losses.
Six. Seven. Eight. Sniff

their soft bodies. Watch
their hands reach toward 

the tiny gate my pain opens. 
My tiny pain gate opens

and each loss scuffles through
hobbling on all fours. Small 

mammal. Each with chin up
in hopes to lick a drop of rain. 

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Lindsay Rockwell is poet-in-residence for the Episcopal Church of Connecticut and hosts their Poetry and Social Justice Dialogue series. She's recently published, or forthcoming in Calyx, EcoTheo Review, Gargoyle, Radar, and The Dewdrop, among others. Her first collection, Ghost Fires, was published by Main Street Rag in April 2023. She’s received fellowships from Vermont Studio Center and Edith Wharton/The Mount residency. Lindsay is also an oncologist.

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