‘Tantalus’ by Jennifer Matthews

for Monkey Óg

Arms branched for balance
you flap flightless, bend
to the flesh of the apple
I’ve just bitten open.
Gums rake the grainy hollow,
press and press again. Nothing
breaks. Eyes wide, you suckle
what sweetness you can,
while I promise you
something cutting
will come through the pink.

From issue #1: autumn/winter 2015

About the Author
Jennifer Matthews writes poetry and is founder and editor of Long Story, Short. Her work has been published in journals in the UK and Ireland. In 2015 she was selected for the Poetry Ireland Introductions series. Rootless, a chapbook, is out now from Smithereens Press. Follow her on Twitter at @JenMarieMa.