Hiding unhidden

Misiek1962, CC BY 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

in which I am no longer the centre of the universe

no longer a cell rejecting, accepting, excepting, neglecting

both inner and outer cleaning

sorting, critiquing, selecting

but a character in someone else’s story

a friend peripheral the way my friends are peripheral to me

even my closest loves seeing me

only from the corners of their eyes

smash

my rage not a roar but a hiss

a slow leak that’s left me

at the bottom of the pool

willing to do without

rather than capitulate

talk about hiding unhidden

riding (not ridden)

my own

horse

home


Louise Carson has published two collections of poetry: Dog Poems (Aeolus House, 2020) and A Clearing (Signature Editions, 2015). She also writes mysteries and historical fiction. Her most recent books are the novels The Last Unsuitable Man and Third Circle. One of her poems, little fires, has been selected for Best Canadian Poetry 2024.