Holly Day has taught writing classes at the Loft Literary Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota since 2000. Her poetry has recently appeared in Tampa Review, SLAB, and Gargoyle. Her published books include Walking Twin Cities, Music Theory for Dummies, and Ugly Girl.

The Distraction

I don’t want you to know me, despite our shared rib
despite the fact that I’m just some wet bone ripped
from your body to fulfill some unspoken, empty loss.
I want to remain an enigma, I will remain unreadable.

I will find your first wife, my sister
made of clay and mother of your nightmares
find out all the things she likes to do and I
will do those things, too, because I already know
you don’t like them, and they are wrong. Familiarity

only brings contempt and children, and I
want neither from you.