Inventory of Important Things by Rose Segal (Lucent Dreaming Issue 10)

I keep the tax returns under the paperweight,
the one with the feathers trapped
drifting through glass.
My degree certificates in the cupboard under the stairs
in a box labelled Cat Pictures.
My passport, in the flippy part of that old guitar case
lined with a velvety coffee-beige fluff.
Driving license behind the teapot
that I keep stuffed with dry teabags.
Birth certificate between the pages of Bleak House.
Ideas in the endless half-empty notebooks,
tears in the wine rack,
fears buried beyond the strawberry pots
on our crumbling garden wall.
Jealousies under my nails.
Joy, behind the butterfly
of my emerald earrings.
Hopes for you, between stretchmarks,
invisibly dreamed in
to these translucent, rippling tears
in my skin.

Buy issue 10 today.

Lucent Dreaming is an independent creative writing magazine publishing beautiful, imaginative and surreal short stories, poetry and artwork from emerging authors and artists worldwide. Subscribe to Lucent Dreaming now, support us on Patreon and follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.