A Photo and a Poem

Two Ways to Open an Egg

Watch me open this egg!
the first woman said

cracking the pearly skin
against a cold metal tin

a swift separation
a dead yellow gem

there, it’s open
she said

watch me open this egg!
the second woman said

placing the orb
in the encircling arms of a nest

holding it to her chest
for ten thousand breaths

patience,
she said

and said
and said
and said

… and the egg opened itself.

 Alexandra Franzen


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