Rowan Lyster

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Try to focus on breathing

I suspect the trees
aren’t real. The grass 
creaks. I must 
sit here carefully 
to avoid being 
seen. The air 
is fraying. Backs 
of my knees itch. 
Though the leaves 
are convincing. 
Small warty bumps.
Insect holes. I am 
entirely still except
a muscle below    
my left eye. 
The first time I 
saw my own blood
I did not believe it 
was part of myself,
too bright. The ducks 
are pretending 
to be ducks.

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ROWAN LYSTER is a poet from Herefordshire. Her poems have appeared in publications including Magma, Poetry Wales, SPOONFEED, Tentacular, The Rialto and The Scores. Her Legitimate Snack is coming soon from Broken Sleep Books. She can be found online @RowanLyster.