The Queen’s Head Between the Rock and Briar

The hill of bottle glass green is
Drenched with thistle heads to mark
the blood from the head of a 
queen which now rests between stone
and River. It’s a funny resting place, I 
think. Here between the murky water and 
nettle which sting my rooted feet. 

The soil pulses beneath my palms as I 
press it against the ground and feel the ancient
blood rise up to meet me. To lick my hand
and curl around my wrist to rest between my
shoulders like some crooked wings. 

Maybe I will rest in a strange place—
only my eyes turned toward the sun. 
Maybe I will rest beside the bank of a 
River. Until my skin has turned as smooth
as stone. 

Maybe my blood will sprout the thistle heads
and my daughters will come to 
watch the soil pitch forward to drink their 
touch. 
And sting their bare feet with nettles, until they
plant in the ground beside me 
and join the queen whose head now rests between the
Rock and briar

***

Teagan Olivia Sturmer is a writer hailing from the stormy shores of Lake Superior, where she embraces the mysteries of life by spending time with loved ones, slinging espresso at her husband’s coffee shop, and working on her novels. She is represented by Amy Giuffrida of the Jennifer De Chiara Literary Agency based out of NYC. You can follow her creative journey on Instagram and Twitter and https://www.teaganoliviasturmer.com/