Maternal Impressions

In 1726, a poor peasant woman named Mary Toft claimed to have given birth to several rabbits.
She was later branded a liar.

Issue 8

https://manyworlds.place/issue-8/jennifer-jantzen/

by Jennifer Jantzen


In 1726, a poor peasant woman named Mary Toft claimed to have given birth to several rabbits.
She was later branded a liar.

The appearance of blue pigment in animals is an optical illusion.

my head / is filled / with rabbits /
/ LIAR /
my brain / imprinted / with shadows /
/ LIAR /
my heart / wallpapered / a nursery / room /
with an animal / pattern /
/ LIAR / no /
the baby / took flight— /
look! / a doctor has / seen it
he (look!)s / at my soul through /
an opening / opening / up /
for rabbits / and crowds / and crowds /
and crowds / now people shake heads /
for reasons / to shake heads / is she
serious? / no / who fuckd her? / no /
/ o LIAR /
can’t be that I’m /
cunning. Can’t / be / that I’m right. /
Only / a girl, I / stuff / sixteen rabbits /
up my vag / for attention /
a moment / in inkprint / a moment /
to rest / I rest / a blot / a dot / on the page
/ LIAR /
it says
/ LIAR / he says
/ I believe you /
he says / he looks through my
tele / scope that’s what
they’ll / tell you / I did it /
for dimes / my babies born /
dead— / look!
/ LIAR /
it’s! /
/ LIAR /
with her / twitchy nose tell /
/ LIAR /
tell us / what mother /
/ births / beast /
/ what / mother /
/ mocks / medic/
/ what mother / knows /
her body / like he could /
this morning / this— / / /

morning.
Got up early to work in the fields.
Looked up.
Saw a blue jay change color mid-flight.
He looked like a a a a


Jennifer Jantzen is a writer and educational professional based in Washington, DC. Her poetry has appeared in All Existing Magazine, The Garlic Press, Alexandria Quarterly, Sublunary Review, and The Disappointed Housewife. When not working, she dreams of dogs and performs with her punk band, Girls on Toast. You can find her work @stone.fruuit on Instagram.