THE BREAD LOAF JOURNAL
The Lost Pleiad (excerpts of a work in progress) KELSEY HENNEGEN | VERMONT Between belonging and the void I float the sky-crowned lake but I’ve a wanton will for ocean a thirst for danger and salt. Rip tides a luxuriant undercurrent and waves—the wreck of them. Their absolute weight. What happens to a pair of lungs and how my scalp strains hair tangling the flood with every dive to dodge the break. You became a burr in my brain prickling your way. Barriers into blood. Between my body and a sea of yearning I float the Pleiades because every daughter needs like an urge for surety and sun to be nearer her ill-fated father.
my father titanic : an atlas of strength & pain secreted : west to earth’s edge : my father holding heaven my father : leaving me prone & lonely : heaving
In indigo I figure myself a nymph the youngest of seven sisters I am miraculous and merciless made mortal in his grip marooned in the world of men I am ontological and ridiculous thrust down against oceaned sky transmogrified my flaking flesh luminous one long vein bowels to belly to brain neither girls nor doves : we shoulder the sky we : a fistful of stars under adamant night desperate : daughters : yoked celestial You shut your eyes open then shut furious irises abrupt in pungent silence and in the silence is possibility a monstrous sun unfurling itself because I came to you 48 | VOLUME VIII