The Marbled Sigh

Ahurani

October 7, 2023 / October 16th, 2023 / October 17th, 2023

I want to disappear along the river current

I want to float along, merging the soul

I want to become water   water    water

that quells the burning wound

that breeds new flowers, crops

water that cleanses dirt

water that grows and grows

I want to become storm,

terrible storm

A cap-shattering downpour

Bring devils

to their knees

and drown them all

Until I’m not        ashamed of       the trifecta of my blood

Until I’m not        afraid for          the trifecta of my blood

Drench their lungs in my wake

in my vacuum of rage

Devein their tongues

hear them no more

Reclaim their flesh

not good enough for muck

but for the pyre

I want to reemerge—whole and pristine—like the current

Have someone else take it from there.

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Virginia Grís (often credited as Virginia Sánchez Navarro) is a Brooklyn-based multidisciplinary artist with a background in poetry, theatre, and film. Grís’ film work has been part of the lineup at several international venues such as the Austin Film Festival, Cinequest, Chelsea Film Festival, Festival Mix Mexico, and the Philadelphia Latino Film Festival. Her poetry has been accepted for publication in Women’s Studies Quarterly, Promethean, The Marbled Sigh, and in several Hispanic publications. She is currently completing the Creative Writing MFA at The City College of New York.