call me woman
BY LYNNE REEDER.
hello my name is can i help you / my name is what can i get you / my name is everything okay
here / please, check the menu, select which mouth to feed today / nevermind the growling of my
own gut / the hunger becoming a part of me / lining my stomach / stabbing my sides / because a
woman’s body curls itself around everything it gives / everything we are taught to give / we are
made to give / i eat sacrifice for breakfast / lunch / dinner / or rather i cook it / saute it / bake it /
set the table / and never sit down / wait for you to open the door / put the napkin in your hand /
let me empty myself to fill you / dishes stacking in the sink / use my back as a plate / scrub the
floor with my tongue / wash all these words away / spines like new planking / this body is a
house constantly being renovated / to everyone else’s tastes / hello my name is make yourself at
home / my name is stay as long as you need / my name is you can use my bed / the floor feels
more familiar anyway / i’ve placed myself here for years / a woman’s body has a softness right
for walking over / let me cushion your feet / a woman’s made for comforting / her name made
for sleeping on / with / through / late night dissipating on your tongue / did i sing the right lullaby
/ call me by your name / change the letters on my forms / put me in terms you can understand /
hello my name is his now / i gave mine away / up / hello my name is / whatever you decide
Lynne Reeder is a high school English and creative writing teacher in central Pennsylvania, where some of her greatest joy comes through teaching students how to embrace the power writing has to unleash the strength in their vulnerability. She has written for Central Penn Parent magazine about her experiences as a full-time working mom of two young girls, and has been named Poet Laureate of her hometown three times. You can find more of Lynne's work on Instagram @thepoemreeder.