Fly by Lucy Whitehead

Fly

I would melt a frozen orchid 
in my mouth until it blossoms,
cradle the mosaic of a shattered 
snail in my hands, fuse it whole,
breathe orbs of sunlight through
the ether to the chrysalis 
of your body, turn your sickness 
into strength. 

But instead, 
this summer afternoon, I scoop 
a meniscus-flattened fly
from the bathtub, dab 
the pool of wetness from around
its waterlogged remains, 
blow like a miniature zephyr
until I sense 
an almost imperceptible stirring,
gentle twitch of consciousness.

A single glistening 
thread unpeels from human skin. 
Six black legs spring 
against hot pink finger, 
separation of bodies, 
shake of slick wings, 
a moment of orientation, 
suddenly flight. 

This I can do 
again and again, 
give someone else 
another chance at life.

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Lucy's poetry has been published or is forthcoming in Amethyst Review, Anti-Heroin Chic, Barren Magazine, Black Bough Poetry, Broken Spine Artist Collective, Burning House Press, Collective Unrest, Electric Moon Magazine, Ghost City Review, Mookychick Magazine, Neon Mariposa Magazine, Pink Plastic House, Pussy Magic, Re-side, and Twist in Time Magazine. She has a BA (Hons) in Archaeology and Anthropology from the University of Cambridge and an MA in History of Art and Archaeology from SOAS University of London. She lives by the sea with her husband and cat. You can find her on Twitter @blueirispoetry.

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