Jessica Van de Kemp is an award-winning teacher, poet, and playwright currently pursuing a PhD in English at the University of Waterloo. She is the author of the poetry chapbooks Daughters in the Dead Land (Kelsay Books, 2017) and Spirit Light (The Steel Chisel, 2015). To read more of her work, visit: canadianpoet.org
Time-lapse
Light trail, legs running, still
stopped at the door to a hallway,
whoever I am here, wall hanger,
smiling into the back of my hand,
a bite of skin, all the men who look,
a yawn intention, longer than, coffee
maker scream, not new, not at all
what spins like a spider through feet,
in tears, the phone call on hold, no faces,
the inaudible whisper of eyes, one breath,
no I can’t, not strong, hanging art from
the ceiling, almost moving, touch
ten years, then light and loud and teeth.
Jessica Van de Kemp