Cassandra Whitaker
Three Brides In My Atria Tear Apart Their Husbands
locked into a pulley of rope-– the blood flowers
upon their dresses-– flesh like lace
upon the stone floor They learned to love
from mother dear who endeared them to hurt
their own body first before ringing the bell tower of their lover
Pain is a door to strength This is a not a celebration but a fist
flexing in reverse Strength opens
A name like a glove receives the hand offered it
keeps it soft while flesh suffers
by its work Mother demands new sons suffer
through pleasure’s pleasure promise of a promise of a promise
By the time the ceremony is complete
guests will be devouring-– the grooms will be empty of
all that was the grooms—will whisper so
Only the baker’s baker can hear love put me here—
I tied the rope with my teeth
locked into a pulley of rope-– the blood flowers
upon their dresses-– flesh like lace
upon the stone floor They learned to love
from mother dear who endeared them to hurt
their own body first before ringing the bell tower of their lover
Pain is a door to strength This is a not a celebration but a fist
flexing in reverse Strength opens
A name like a glove receives the hand offered it
keeps it soft while flesh suffers
by its work Mother demands new sons suffer
through pleasure’s pleasure promise of a promise of a promise
By the time the ceremony is complete
guests will be devouring-– the grooms will be empty of
all that was the grooms—will whisper so
Only the baker’s baker can hear love put me here—
I tied the rope with my teeth
--
Cassandra Whitaker (she/they) is a trans writer living in rural Virginia. Whit’s work has been published in Michigan Quarterly Review, Gulf Coast, Conjunctions, The Mississippi Review, and other places. Wolf Devouring A Wolf Devouring A Wolf is forthcoming from Jackleg Press in 2025. She is a member of the National Book Critics Circle.
Cassandra Whitaker (she/they) is a trans writer living in rural Virginia. Whit’s work has been published in Michigan Quarterly Review, Gulf Coast, Conjunctions, The Mississippi Review, and other places. Wolf Devouring A Wolf Devouring A Wolf is forthcoming from Jackleg Press in 2025. She is a member of the National Book Critics Circle.