The Naming

Alexandra Fössinger

I did not give it a name
immediately, this blaze
spreading to life
from a dream, such
was the scare of you
taking my solitude
and making it sting.

I, who hear words before
I recognise things
was too afraid, knowing
that it would escape designation

by meaning all;
that what I saw - you,
defying my sense of gravity,
being so young -
I could never unsee.

Still, I handed you over
all the secrets that glued me
together like wax.

Who were you, for not
returning my gaze, for
a knowledge greater
than hope? For scorching me

thus, with a designation
by fire.

Alexandra Fössinger

Alexandra Fössinger is a German/Italian native speaker from Italy. Her work is published or forthcoming in Tears in the Fence, Frogmore Papers, Wild Court, High Window, The Journal, Oyster River Pages, The Gentian Journal, Reliquiae, among others. Her first poetry collection is forthcoming from Cephalopress in late 2022.

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