Poetry by S. Patterson

               Inessa Akhmedova CC



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The Diary of Abigail Williams, One of Salem’s Possessed 

I draw my reverend uncle eating live eels raw eggs their yellow bits floating in wine barrels saved from the fire that burnt his mother alive in the year of 1,666 night terrors the closet filled with Satan wearing sequinned jumpsuits wanting to impregnate me according to that one X-Files episode but I’ll not be licked by tongues of devils 

I slither bellyground like a holy sister a bride of Christ locked in a cell made of snakeskin embryonic sacks my mother writes plaintiff letters: I’ll save you I’ll save you I’ll save you mothers drink fountain water causing madness we dance with snakes in cold mountain streams dreaming of women in yellow 

Sitting on chests on necks of church choir rivals wearing ochre dresses shawls scarves snaking up arms to hide the impurity of elbows I speak tongues to camp counsellors in the Quebecois accent that slithered out the woman who wasn’t my mother but she caretook me women speaking in tongues are madly blessed 

Blessedly mad or just cursed God touched you said the reverend before exorcising language and shakes with holy spring water blessed snake oil we sing Jesus loves me this I know and dance around a bonfire filled with women mothers who sat on chests in the dark their mouths snake fangs used to show we are God’s elect I am asked: have you been bitten

Everyone is bitten at least once, how else will we know if we’ve been saved



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S. Patterson is a Toronto writer who has spent time in Florida, North Carolina and California. Their work has appeared in publications such as YES Poetry, Minola Review, Plenitude Magazine, Sinking City Review, Humber Literary Review (forthcoming), South Florida Poetry Journal (forthcoming), and Coffin Bell Journal (forthcoming).