Saint Julian Press Poet

Melissa Studdard - Writer - Poet - English Professor - Editor

 

A PRAYER

 

Someday I’ll meet you again,

and we’ll sleep like the eyes of hurricanes,

lidless in our trek to taste each other’s tongues

as they throw dirt over my face and into the quivers

of my throat. I’ve been meaning to say a little

something each night, to light a candle

in the doorframe, set fire

to the empty church: For you, I’d drive

the people back into each other’s arms,

where they could see, finally, your

softness again.  I meant to say I knew you

were unhoused, the original nomad. There were

none living there among the pews. What was left

was pressed among the pages of psalmody.

And this is no new thing. Another costume off:

My golden hair. My blue-green eyes. Shed beneath the dirt.

I meant to say, how are you? And, also, this is not about

me. Because there are tigers scratching

at the swirling wind. And there are monsters

banging on the shutter doors. Because I’ve had

no time to think or eat properly or rest. It was all

just a blind sneeze in the wind. Let me know everything

about you, please. I’ll go back. Do it right this time.

I’ll be a dragonfly, a pebble, an earthworm, a flea.

 

 

I Ate the Cosmos for Breakfast 

​by Melissa Studdard

Poems from Melissa Studdard's first poetry collection published by Saint Julian Press.

Press Release


Cover Art: The Bravest Woman Size, 40 x 30
Oil On Canvas by Eric Anfinson. Used by gracious permission of the artist.
www .ericanfinson.com

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Watch: Poetry Comes to Life in an Exclusive 'I Ate the Cosmos for Breakfast' Short Film from Melissa Studdard’s first book of poetry, published by Saint Julian Press.

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