Poetry by Dane Lyn

             stanze CC



​heartbirds 

“…heart like a canvas. 
heart leaking something so strong 
they can smell it in the street” -Marty McConnell


rust flaking cage encases seeping organ
heart road-rash raw, cringes at the dark
in the depths, tiny dust of steel reflects starlight
cower around it, over it, through it 

unmoor more particles spirit them away
collect bits and pieces of the cold hard metal 
fashion them into horseshoe-shaped spinal bone
wait, gather more shards in pockets

finger coil pressure slices palm 
like calls like 
the strength of reformed vertebrae summons more fragments
now a backbone of fucking steel

heart-ooze overflows in and around reinforced skeleton 
escapes throat into mouth courses through kisses 
into her lips, 
onto the nape of his neck

bandage that offending organ, stem the flow of offensive love
the dressing putrefies
broken nails claw 
rip open chest cavity open

heartbirds venture out with each pulse 
lub dub, flutter 
lub dub flutter 
lub dub flutter


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Dane Lyn (they/them) is a queer, educator, poet, and glitter enthusiast with an MFA from Lindenwood University. Find them in Southern California with their partner, advocating for disabled rights, constructing blanket forts, caring for their menagerie of teens, snakes, lizards, dogs, rabbits, and cats, and ridding their shoes of beach sand. Dane’s work has been or will be featured in Gnashing Teeth, Silver Rose Magazine and Nymph Publication. @punkhippypoet is where you will find them on Instagram and Twitter.

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