Poem by Agnes Marton (Hungary)

Art painted in response to the poem by Malgorzata Lazarek (Poland)

Published in issue 39 of The Ofi Press.

From Underwater

I call her Naomi Melanie,

my headstrong double.

She talks to me

from the depths of the womb.

Sometimes she makes me feel

a fake,

sometimes she proves

games playable,

whoever the lead.

The roared-off Motherdaughter,

lostfound.

The mongrelized wife.

When sinking, I miss the surface.

The rough breath of the air.

It’s me,

strengthened by backup, still afraid.

I can’t pray, have never learned,

I just repeat the names

of long-ago-seen friends,

believing in believing:

Ortrud Sturm, Fresia Puente,

Maria Teresa Bliss.