Cuban Jute (Sida rhombifolia)
By Erin Luna
I broom and broom until,
Wisps of dust and dirt burrow into the cracks of my skin,
Dust bunnies burrow into my throat,
tangling my windpipe.
Stare at my hands clutching the handle.
Squint at my red ripped blisters.
Feel the sting of ammonia when rinsing my fingers.
I am useful.
The weight of my bones buries me,
My blood and sinew muffle me,
Each crack in my skin holds the slaughter of myself.
But still I broom and broom until
My inevitable uproot.
Erin Luna is a Cuban-American writer, poet, and filmmaker. She is a recent graduate of Columbia University with a degree in Creative Writing, and a concentration in Human Rights. When she isn’t writing screenplays, she can be found posting about her art and writing on Instagram at @luna_jade_ .