Chelsea Fanning
Phases of the Moon

I. Maidenhood

The girl devours boys, taking them into her
one after the other like chocolate-covered candy.

Their sweetness stains her teeth
and bloats her stomach.
Still her plump pink

fingers reach for more –
anything to make her whole.

II. Motherhood

The woman next door fills her stomach
with rubbing alcohol, feverishly licking
the droplets that trickle out her mouth.

She accepts the hunger, but must keep
the wound it cuts clean, praying
words like Husband, Daughter, Son

will ease the pangs
and keep her fed.

III. Cronehood

Standing before the bathroom mirror, the crone
shoves hands down throat, scooping the hunger
from the waters of her body like a fish.

She wants to bury it in the back garden, but fears
it will consume the earth. She considers throwing it
into the blender, but worries the bits will make
new aches, seeking new homes.

Instead she sews it up with a neat cross-stitch,
crafting a black epaulette to wear on her shoulder,
a mark of honor and the need to live with hunger.