Laurin Becker Macios
Backbone of Existence

You’re the backbone of a constant battle
pressing the keys of daily depression
rigorously deep down hard and boiling—
crunching numbers, crunching abs, crunching
spines. You’re the maker met with a puppied eye
and a dog-eared bible. You’re the one to run from.
You’re the cold breath streaming from a barreling
steam engine, and the proud earth’s thrust to get ahead
on time.

_ _

Laurin Becker Macios has an MFA in poetry from the University of New Hampshire and is the Program Director for Mass Poetry. Her poems have recently appeared or are forthcoming in Theodate, RHINO, and Five 2 One. She was a finalist for Paper Nautilus’ 2013 Vella Chapbook Prize. She lives in Boston with six plants and one wicked awesome husband.

<< Back to Issue 16, 2013