Only children cast nets so wide the fish inside are not trapped
But contained for play, we heal and nurse, swim between identities
Wander roles build relationships, patient me and doctor you, kisser
And kisser, we handle our imaginations as delicately as the laces
In an antique sewing box, return ladybugs to shady leaves
We are only children, we only live over a hundred, tell our own
Stories, humming through sordid spaces, make space for our people
And hold it, and hold it, and hold it,
We are the only ones the world has seen casting nets
With no intention of burying what is inside
Forest has a degree in cultural anthropology and comparative literature. He works as a kitchen assistant at Mylk and Hummus and as a staff person at Beyond Van Gogh. His visual poems were selected for the 2021 Lit Show by Infinity’s Kitchen.
