zeniths and mortars
what words are these
tightropes of bronze stars
pockets of papered lies
ploughing
they want you to wear a statue
of your rose harvest dress
remember from the emblazed garden
to smile unworldly
there should be balloons
before the snow
defeated
all we have
a map that does not fit
shivering barricades
sawdust for unripened bones
barley and glue
licked twilight walls
tawny saliva cupped
to copper chalk fingertips
hollow melting
when do we stop
how
to not tumble down
iced steps to the gully
do you have a summer coral house
from a closed dream
or somewhere else
anywhere
an ageless skeleton key
dear courage
can we go there now

Louise Mather is a writer from Northern England and founding editor of Acropolis Journal. Her work is published or forthcoming in magazines such as Fly on the Wall Press, Crow & Cross Keys, Nymphs, Streetcake Magazine, Feral and Dust Poetry Magazine. She writes about endometriosis, fatigue and mental health. Twitter @lm2020uk