“This, Eileen” by Emmanuel Jakpa

This, Eileen

Clean as
stainless steel,

heavy as metal,
Lutetium,

sink deep
to the bottom

of the heart.
Your words glare,

like a brandished
knife. Eileen,

look, these alignments,
zip hooks,

buttons,
busy points,

tensioned
phrase,

treading
the needle's eye.




Inspiration
for Eileen Sheehan

There are some things
we could better see
or hear at night,

and others, when attuned
to the violent rhythm
of the day.