‘Seamstress of Bodies’ by Preston Meys

A banner featuring photos of clusters of yellow lemons on either side of black text that reads '#EnbyLife Journal. Tribute. enbylife.net'. The banner background is light brown and white striped, and a border with a brown scallopy design is on the left and right hand sides.

Seamstress of Bodies

Threaded needle pinched
between bent thumb and forefinger—
I am the maker
of all things discarded:

freaks. Outsiders,
untouchables.
From my curling and polished hand,
I mimic queer life,
form a legion of bodies
out of fleshy fabric
and string, stuff and set them
to sit in contorted pose for
eternity: pearl smiles forever
stretching faces, dewy eyes
never drying, plump and bony bodies
unchanging, all forever welcome
here, the home of my artistic paradise.

Oh yes, I am the maker
of all things discarded,
goddess of the damned,
hope for the deserted.

After GL.2D.358, 2D art by Greer Lankton
Italicized quote from Greer Lankton discussing her work
for her It’s All About ME, Not You museum exhibit

Close up photo of a toy doll’s face, covered in dirt and sand, with their eye half open.

About the author

Preston Meys (he/him) is a trans and queer poet studying English and Writing at the University of Wisconsin-Superior. He’s currently working on a chapbook of poems inspired by trans art and lives. His poetry has previously appeared in The Nemadji Review and the Roaring Muse.

Photo by Patrick Hendry on Unsplash.