Three Poems

by Lizzie Scheader

THIS IS WHAT WE USE TO PRAY

LEARNING TO WALK  OR LEARNING TO    SAY   WORDS    THAT BECOME YOUR WAY OF CONNECTING

WITH GOD AND MY GOD I DON'T REMEMBER WHEN THEY LEFT MY MOUTH FOR THE FIRST TIME BUT I THINK I LIKED IT BASED ON THE FACT THAT I CANNOT SEEM TO MANAGE WITHOUT STOPPING, AND WHEN I SEE YOU IT'S IMPOSSIBLE FOR ME TO EVEN REMEMBER HOW.

LAY MY MOUTH DOWN

AND DRENCH MY BODY IS DEET.

WHILE SITTING AT MY TABLE I THINK:

MAYBE IT JUST NEEDS MORE SUGAR. MAYBE I JUST NEED MORE SUGAR.

WHICH IS ALL TO SAY: I NEED TO BE SWEETER.

WE PLAY TOGETHER WITH VERY LITTLE CARE AFTER.

AND l'M LAYING IN MY BED REMINICING,

ABOUT HOW STEP 4 IS ALWAYS THE HARDEST.

THAT’S THAT GIFT-FROM GOD-SHIT, 2025

THAT’S THAT

GIFT-FROM

GOD-SHIT

JUST YESTERDAY,

THE KID AT THE END OF

MY BLOCK

HAD A NASTY

WIPEOUT

ON HIS SCOOTER,

BUT IN THE DISTANCE,

HIS ARM

WAS RAISED

HIGH.

HOLDING A

THUMBS UP,

AND HIS DAD

CEASING

TO RUN.

LIKE A FLAG AT FULL MAST

BIO: Lizzie Scheader is an artist and writer based in New York.