
Dirty word
On Friday 25th May, Irish citizens will vote in a referendum on abortion rights.
Dirty Word
by Susan Millar DuMars
The first three fourths are fine.
The listening ear of c
the deep bowl of u
curved bridge n; but then
the tiny crucifix at tail end tips us
away from rounded lips
to a sound we make with closed teeth
and spit. Like that,
my tenderest part, an epithet.
And we can’t talk about
what goes in or out of it
and I have to petition
just to gain control of it
and you wonder why
I’m of two minds about it?
My sweetest place. The cruelest taunt.
I try to write its name down. Can’t.