Donna James’ most recent poem to appear here was “Fabrication” (February 2020).
Prospera
By Donna James
She will be laid under
in ground held back for green burial
close to encroaching trees.
I imagine them taking over,
Lummi reverted to woods.
Ann, Duchess of Death—
custodian of skeletons, shipwright of fallen feathers,
sorceress in command on her island
summoning roots to wrap her bones.
We conjure our stories.
In our final act, we set free
what spirits we harnessed to will,
surrender our books, our magic,
our children to their fates.
Cut rope and head the prow
toward nowhere
bones
feathers
