Deliver Me by Mon Malanovich-Gallagher

Deliver Me
by Mon Malanovich-Gallagher

When it happens I don’t care much how 

but make it be outside 

to the sound of Lacrimosa 

a bird song 

a cat purr 

a lover’s whisper in my ear 

blinded by the morning sun 

melting in the gentle breeze 

peaceful  

Untongue me then 

Untender 

                                     Where no hand can reach 

                                     my curtain lifts - 

                                     the softest guillotine - 

                                     reveals the centre 

                                     soggysweet 

                                     underneath your petticoat of chaos  

When it happens let me plead not guilty 

of the many sins  

vices engraved on fingertips 

memory of my flesh

And let me be forgiven  

in the open  

I’ll take your sacrament anywhere you give it 

In greedymouthed reverence  

I’ll fall before you 

to my knees

Hear Mon Malanovich-Gallagher recite the poem on the Viewless Wings Poetry Podcast:

Mon Malanovich-Gallagher is a non-binary queer poet from Oswiecim, Poland, which is better known in the world under its German name – Auschwitz. Their poems appeared internationally in a variety of chapbooks, anthologies and magazines including Queer Writing for a Brave New World, Beyond Words, Allegory Ridge and are forthcoming in a number of other publications, both online and in print. You can connect with Mon on IG: @MxMonMG