A bear brings forth her young informous and unshapen.
I now wear the pelt of the conjured beast around my groin.
I think of new words for solace, one of which is knifed.
We take no form until licked into shape by the tongues of those who love us.
From Arrow (Alice James Books, Carcanet Press, 2020). Copyright © 2020 Sumita Chakraborty. Used with the permission of the author.