"There is no still moment"
Heart here is not a metaphor
my fist heart atria ventricles
it moves pause it moves pause
slightly off-rhythm
When the heart is a metaphor
it does stop Every moment is a still still
moment then slow motion pain slow
motioning though an artery through
a vein Pseudo-solarization of the circul
atory system
Heart burn has nothing to do with
the heart It's the chest the stomach
the esophagus It's acid moving in
side acid we make no bitters no
base
What I'm saying is that
my body is a metaphor for
being tired
my body is not a metaphor for
hurt It literally hurts from the hurt that
starts in the heart
Heart here is not a metaphor
The title is a quote by artist Doug Argue in his statement for an exhibit at the Nassau County Museum of Art
Christina M. Rau is the author of the Elgin Award-winning poetry collection Liberating The Astronauts and the chapbooks WakeBreatheMove (Finishing Line Press) and For The Girls, I (Dancing Girls Press). She was named Poet of the Year by Walt Whitman Birthplace 2020 and Oceanside Library Poet in Residence 2020-2021. In her non-writing life, when she's not teaching yoga, she's watching the Game Show Network. You can find her here.