In Her Element: Lois E. Linkens & Kindra M. Austin

(Kindra)

Stay the blade lodged in my back—

let the tissue heal and seal the

covenant.  

I am Woman,

unrecumbent,

and daggers only steel my skin.

 

(Lois)

the waters struck the cliff

and there i was,

chalked upon its rocky face.

sharp heavy things

chipped like woodpeckers, struck

their pointed heads against my crags,

but still i stood.

i wriggled my toes in the earth’s red core;

rough skin and fire

below the sky.

 

(Kindra)

Scale me, daring mountain climber,

with your fancy

seismograph—

go on, pretend the spirit of Woman is

something actually

measurable.

Taste my magma, and feel my resolve.    

  

(Lois)

my dust falls in clouds

in salt air.

the knock of you rings empty

across this blue horizon,

and still, i have stood.

 

(Kindra)

Stand in shadow of my marble,

and revere my perseverance—

I am monumental testament

of a woman’s strength.

 

(Lois)

white horses batter and suck

with the bright moon’s pull——

by six i have wet feet.

my sea-swept hair flies like wings,

as pink evening bends its knee.