You Are Not My Mother (for Alison Bechdel)

How does the birdling know the crane
Isn’t its mother?

Issue 11

https://manyworlds.place/issue-11/nonbeaunary/

by Nonbeaunary


How does the birdling know the crane
Isn’t its mother?

If your response to me is a snort is that a
Mother?

‘I raised you up and up and up I am your
Mother’

It is too high you are not my mother you are an
Arm

‘I was transformed into this I am your
Mother’

She didn’t abandon me she’s looking for me now

‘I am your mother I am your mother I am’

Your claw and your huff and your metal

And the Snort put them down back in the tree
Put them down let them down let them

Let me down put me back you are not my


Nonbeaunary (She/They) toils with words and mixed media out of Central Florida, focusing on themes of queerness, connection, and idolatry. Her body of work includes poetry, zines, and pixel art.

They’ve been published in ‘Neptune Poetry Magazine’, ‘Queering the Dots’, and ‘Eckerd Review’.

Find her on Instagram: @pix_elbeau