COME HERE
When you’re tired
from struggling all day long
and your legs are dragging,
Come, come here
and wear mine.
When your arms weigh
as much as your Christ’s,
dress in my flesh, wait to
see how surprised you’ll be
by the taste of beer on the
tip of your tongue.
Your skin will itch in the places
where men have kissed it,
your head will throb with a buzz
in the ears from too many parties.
When you want to be alone
for a little while but you’re
too ashamed to ask for it,
go hide under my jacket.
When the world tightens and
doesn’t fit through your chest,
when the evening stagnates,
come here, grandmother,
so I can lend you my body.
Born in 1999 in Malaga, Spain, now residing in Edinburgh, Scotland, Nazaret Ranea is an emerging poet recognized as one of Scotland’s Next Generation Young Makars. Nazaret is the author of the zine My Men and the editor of the anthology For Those Who Tend the Soil,which was published in partnership with the Scottish Poetry Library. She is currently working on her debut anthology. She frequently participates in many spoken work events in Scotland, has been featured in BBC Radio Scotland and debuted at the 2023 Fringe festival. You can find out more about Nazaret’s work on www.nazaretranea.com