One Poem Only is a daily ritual: one poem, center stage, just for now.

Amalgamation

Sophia James

I walk to the top of the hill,

The Sheffield hill

That made my accent broad

My legs - wide and sturdy,

And my body - strong.

The same body

That my Mother’s Mother’s

Mother had.

The body that belongs to me,

And in it, I belong.

I stand at the top of the hill,

Held up by my legs.

I stick my belly out,

My top rides up, and I feel a breeze.

I feel the wind tickle my fingers,

I clutch the air and squeeze.

I clench the fingers

I see my Grandma in.

The fingers, my Grandma

Sees her Daughter in

The fingers

That let us share rings

And hold onto things

And people

That we love.

The fingers

That my baby sister gripped,

When she learned to stomp her legs

Up the hill.

That I now look over.

Suddenly the noise

Fizzles out.

And this silence,

Sets me free.

My body is an amalgamation

Of the women

Before

And after me.

More from Sophia James ↓

• @m0nkia on Instagram
• @sophialilyj19 on Substack

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Write After with One Poem Only

Write After is a way to encourage poets to listen and write, and use National Poetry Month to highlight how listening to poetry makes us better poets. I know I write the best when I’m surrounded by beautiful poetry–it’s part of the reason I created this podcast, and I want to encourage others to share this practice. If you want to join: Listen to a poem from the month of April on One Poem Only, then write your own in response. I will pick one for each day to read in June for a special series: One Poem After 🍎🍏 Submissions close May 15.

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