Worm
by L.A. Martin
world skied across
pulling a gasp from my mouth
and the physical imitation of a gasp from it
a bright pink O! writhes with life
and I project romantic true delight
in two hours I unearth ten worms
all whole, unhurt and vibrant
all ten lucky and I the luckiest
silver trowel tossed and
filled up with guiltlessness
dark crumbling sugar and no bad price
all free lovely alive pink-fingered
like a pepper when you cut into it
unearthing a tiny secret pepper
L.A. Martin lives in London. Her work has appeared in Rust and Moth, Occulum, and Stone of Madness Press issue three (!), among others. Her short story Would you still love me? was awarded runner up in the Writers’ & Artists’ Short Story Competition 2023. Her poems have been shortlisted for the Mslexia Poetry Prize and the Forest Poets Competition. More: lamartin.net.