𝓕𝔦ηᗪ 𝕪𝓞υᖇ𝓼ⓔⓁ𝔽 Ａ 𝓒𝓾в

means “pick someone
your size” and “smallness
is impossible for you,”

a little Jeremiah begging
God please don’t take me—
I haven’t fallen in love yet.

I’ve only tripped over it
as I stoop for everyone.

By the time we all die,

we’ve spent weeks
looking at our shoes.

Look at me, daddy—
I’m supple as shoestring.

Thom C. Addington (he/him) is a queer, Catholic, rural Southern writer with Appalachian roots raised on Rappahannock land in King & Queen County, Virginia. Thom currently serves as Associate Dean of Humanities & Social Sciences at Reynolds Community College.