How does a poem begin?
I want to tell you about the body / where the hurt / heat / hate resounds. I want you to notice the fulsome expanse of trying to right / re-right / rewrite. I want to ask you about the part / where the flesh / flush / fear resides. I want to ask – did I hurt you? If so, where? And obviously, the return / rerun / relapse of when. When did the incident become an image and how does the image turn into sound. Can I show you what shapes must do to shake like noise. The echo of representation feels good in the mouth. A throaty reflux / reflex / rest. Have you heard memories hold / heave / hover. I want to tell you about the body / watch me wind up.
Emma McKenna (she/her) is a multidisciplinary feminist writer with a PhD in English & Cultural Studies. She is the author of two poetry collections, Gold Star (Book*hug Press, 2026) and Chenille or Silk (Caitlin Press, 2019). She is bi, disabled, and grew up poor/working-class. Web: emmamckenna.com Insta: @emmamckennawrites
