Isolated Heart Poem by Adaobi Chiemelu

Isolated Heart


I stepped out of my heart today,
Not for the first time in three weeks or two, no,
Just today because you don't count in weeks or days when you're isolated,
You count in: what now, what to do now;
Now sweat, now tears, now blood.
That pain that comes with living, let it roll on;
It's mercury now, it'll be oil later.

I stepped out of my heart today.
Your initials carved right on a corner.
Walking around it, I stepped on a thorn.
Why do you have a Thorn in your name?
Your initials spread out like five able fingers, I wonder if you have the whole world in your hands.
That pain that comes with loving, let it.

I stepped out of my heart today,
To remind myself what it looks like unmasked.