Jennifer Parkhill

Jennifer Parkhill Instagram – mother, I’ve left for the circus.
mother, I won’t be home
when supper is ready, the sound
of the cow bell, the porch light left on.
.
mother, I won’t be back
to tend to the garden.
I won’t collect the eggs from the hens.
mother, I will not be home again.
.
mother, I’ve left with the circus.
mother, I’ve lost my thumbs.
mother, I’ve burned my bridges.
when the circus calls, one must come.
.
I spend my days sweating in trapeze tents.
I sit with the lions and tickle their gums.
I don’t have favorites but if I did,
the sharp-teethed, they’d be the ones.
.
mother, I feel best in the lamp light.
mother, I’m best outside the drawers.
mother, I’m best amongst the bearded ladies,
camp fires, clowns, and whores.
.
curl a palm around bent faces
feel lives beating inside drums
steady as a ship through night,
hands pulled my pocket, said, come.
.
mother, I’ve run off with the circus.
mother, I’m not coming home.
mother, I’ll rest my head on train cars.
not to worry, I’m not alone.
.
.
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📷 @adamcolemandp
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