danced out of my mother’s
womb naked cold
cocooned in the afterbirth of art
cord snip cut
cries turned to screams
soul activated
why why why
oh how, the harsh lights hurt
this was the house I was
assigned to
difficult
damn difficult
the odd child with tangled hair
pretty, brainy bright
wild beats wrap, rap in her head
alone, oh
how I hated hating the light—
how it hurts
my time lapsing
long fuzzy dream,
barefoot and
defiant
rebellious teen
tease
a mad maddening lover
queer wild beats
dancer—possessed
turning on pointe
a woman,
a ritual passage
a religion
for another lover,
a new masquerade
untombed
a rebel
oh sweet hallelujah and a
poet amen,
an artist—a reluctant mother,
myself
a wild unfinished poem
returned
back to my mother’s womb.
Photo by Juli Kosolapova on Unsplash
Jacquie Prebich
Jacquie Prebich was raised in New York City and currently resides in Los Angeles. She started ballet at age five and danced until her first pregnancy. Jacquie loves writing, producing, and directing. She created Ballet Theatre in 2006, a new performance concept combining classical ballet with acting, singing, and live music. Jacquie began writing poetry after undergoing rehab for prescription pain pills— an addiction that developed as a result of dance injuries. Jacquie lives in a scenic canyon with her family and rescue animals. She is currently working on her first poetry book. Follow Jacquie on Twitter @JwPrebich
