St. Teresa of Avila (patron of bodily ills, lacemakers, people in need of grace)

I keep no company, store no

goldenrod in these seams, no

crinoline in my teeth, no

signs of wear on these hands.

There is no twist in the ivy

to mirror the veins in this skin.

I try to hold these devotions

of silence in the space under

my breasts. God tells me I am

a blessing of tears. He left me

all on fire.