these maggots

by Dihya Ammar

their eyes were on us like maggots on bodies feasting on our fester. our salt rind skins are licked dry by summer wind, flesh turned tender gold. we forfeit freedom in winter. drawing away from the waves. and bright embrace of sunlight. to humility. drawing back shades. a cower from these prying eyes. shameless and devouring eyes. those men gather in their masses. congregational horrors. to intimidate us. we sit flesh-splayed like a cracked yolk oozing. boulder-headed in our stubbornness. she is all of us. now a tattooed memory like a branding. reminder that we are a pending damage. dry timber in this inferno. we seek to root. our seedling toes. into the earth. a permanence. we will never forget. we will never forgive. she is the holy ghost. the martyred angel. our northbound light. the vengeance of an apple.  lodged in their throats. to choke on. for eternity.

BIO: Dihya Ammar is an Imazighen writer, artist, and scientist based in rainy Scotland. Their work has appeared or is forthcoming in Green Ink Poetry, The Ekphrastic Review, Alocasia, Essex University Journal, Pandan Press Sea Lit Circle among others. Their website is https://dihyaammar.wordpress.com/. Instagram: @dihyaammar.