Poetry. In That Life by Phoebe Gilmore. Image: the silhouette head of a woman looks out, while behind her a second, lighter shadow looks out.

in that life

I’ll have a dog or a cat and it will be the only thing  

 

that knows me, my spirit will wear walking boots thrust  

 

into the woods, my hair will be thick  

 

and understood, I will eat perfect mouth portions, have a single  

 

elegant bowl for each occasion, I’ll wear tights  

 

and strings of beads and let my mum in, I won’t hesitate about a body 

 

of water, I’ll have strong goat legs and sex  

 

won’t matter, I’ll be content sitting 

 

on the floor and not look in the mirror much, people will fall  

 

into the slipstream of my voice, my hands  

 

will look like they belong, I’ll enjoy  

 

eating berries and I won’t think about men  

 

whilst watching tv, I’ll be a natural 

 

diver, my face will be apple half and owl-like,  

 

there will always be something to do and nothing  

 

to say, my skin will be firm and kind. I’ll keep myself  

 

looped like a scarf or a rope. 

 

Phoebe Gilmore

Phoebe Gilmore

Phoebe Gilmore is a South London-based writer from Devon.
 

She is studying for an MA in Creative and Life Writing at Goldsmiths University, and runs a poetry reading night in the heart of New Cross called Safeword. 

 

Her other work features in The Shore, GoldDust, and Smiths magazine.

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