Gave Rise To

living in towers, visiting the coast
only in sickness, for the air, squinting
at the river, the sound I walk with
the fear the quiet of birds gave rise to

started taking on your ailments
standing exposed to the storm
every hill seems made on purpose
sand dunes for the sentinels

wind keeps on to shake the windows
early from these trees the frailty
can’t recall the change of subject
the faults splitting under me

ξ

Measured For

I saw the dolphins flash at me
and made a mistake at the crossing
complaining of the briefness
I don’t know who you are

got creative in the ditch
looking for the Roman wall
but wanted to turn back, after all
it wasn’t there

there’s only one considered second
galleys measured for the sea
fish remembering their eggs
thought in motion, rushing for

the same tone and the viaduct
removed from the railway schedule
upon Tyne you knew the duties
I was changing

ξ

Hannah Piette is a poet living and teaching in Iowa City. She is a recent graduate from the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, and her work can be found in Paperbark Magazine.