Body of Longing by Paige McBride

I walk into the wind and desire
your bread to be gently placed
on my tongue

Like poetry, my voice seeks
to speak as I awake and crawl
from this tomb

This tomb that is not mine
and was never meant for me
but has always belonged
to the world I live in

My white teeth bare all
even when I am breathing
the white distance of dust
with speckled patterns
in the eyes of my mind

I wish for you to speak
to speak to me in prophetic dreams
as I count all the stars you walk on

You say this is where I will bloom
with my continental celestial
bones of gold

And I believe you
I believe you

with my all, with my holy body
of longing, longing for all of you.

Paige McBride is a poet and artist who lives in Dunedin, Florida. She earned a BA in English (CRW) and a Master’s degree in Library and Information Science. She is currently earning her Master’s degree in Creative Wiriting – Poetry at Saint Leo University. Her poems have appeared in the Straylight Literary Magazine, Saint Katherine Review, West Trade Review, Tulane Review, Heartwood Literary Magazine, American Chordata, Sunset Liminal Press, aaduna, Literary Juice, Burningword Literary Journal, and The Wayfarer among others.