Poetry by Heather Loudermilk

Mike Maguire CC



walking at night

i stepped through these trees before i knew to be scared
of bugs, of snakes with a rattled edge. of men in the park,
building lean-tos that catch my eye. i was hurt once

in a place nothing like this. some nights i’m still the girl
climbing trees. i’m yelling at drunkards. i’m punching
your sons in the backyard, mud in my mouth.

retaliation is no better than the original crime. tell 
that to the basement girl, grown, past groveling.
i hope every man that hurt me is dead.




​Heather Loudermilk currently lives in Knoxville, Tn. with her partner and 2 cats. She has a BA from Hollins University. Her work has been published in Still: The Journal, Fredericksburg Literary and Art Review, and Artemis Journal. 
​You can reach her at https://heatherlloudermilk.carrd.co/.