Our hands hovered, spasming
in the abstract reflection thick glass
gives without a metal lid to tremble
into calm rhythms, Emily
& I, discussed nothing fancy
& nothing wholesome, we wondered
out loud what pieces of ourselves
would fit into the only jar we owned
that was made of glass. I offered up
two fingers and an ear. She told me
that I could do better than that.
She told me that I could fit
a whole hand and both ears, that I
thought too much about my size
& that she, if prompted to could place
her whole heart and lungs beneath
the floral design. She says I value her
too greatly, that I should know exactly
what pieces of her are for sale
& what pieces of her are for sacrifice
& though I’m not entirely certain
that is fair. I have spent a large portion
of my adult life making yard signs
just in case any bit of Emily is needed.
Darren C. Demaree is the author of six poetry collections, most recently Many Full Hands Applauding Inelegantly (8th House Publishing, 2016). His seventh collection, Two Towns Over, was recently selected as the winner of the Louise Bogan Award from Trio House Press and is due out in March 2018. He is the Managing Editor of the Best of the Net anthology and Ovenbird Poetry. He is currently living in Columbus, Ohio, with his wife and children.