Cherry
After weeks of tahini drizzled
on every fibrous meal, sprinkling
sawdust on the aftermath in compost loos.
You have earned it, your commune name.
Born again from cheap air travel and patchouli.
You haven’t worn a bra since you arrived,
this new freedom, this beating, rebellious
thing. Bee trapped in a jar. You unscrew the lid.
Choose an ode to ripening, a sweet beginning.
Not Skylark or Sage. A name with a stem
you can tie with your tongue. A party trick
that makes Saffron and Sierra wonder
what your hands can do.
Carson Wolfe is a Mancunian poet. In 2021, they were an Aurora prize winner and a Button video contest winner. Their work has appeared or is forthcoming with Fourteen Poems, Rattle, The Penn Review, and Button Poetry. You can find them on Instagram @vincentvanbutch.