The Postpartum Sideshow—or—
What Do I Know About Being a Freak?
Nicelle Davis & Cheryl Gross
Almost nothing. But. When my son was born I had flashes
of my kid-brother lighting himself on fire for attention—how
at six I shaved off all my hair to be seen. I didn’t trust myself
with this armful of breath now outside me. I avoided edges
and sleep—stopped showering. All so I could watch him. And
watch him more. People called me crazy. I told them, come near
us and I’ll take your face with my teeth—starting with your eyes.
Poet NICELLE DAVIS lives in Southern California with her son J.J. Her poems have appeared or are forthcoming in Broadsided, Front Range, FuseLit, Moulin Review, ML Press, The New York Quarterly, Offending Adam, Picture Postcard Press, SLAB Magazine, Superficial Flesh, Transcurrent Literary Journal, Two Review, and others. She’d like to acknowledge her poetry family at the University of California, Riverside and Antelope Valley Community College. She runs a free online poetry workshop at The Bees’ Knees Blog.
Artist CHERYL GROSS has an MFA in New Forms from Pratt. She writes: "When asked about my work, I always equate it with creating an environment transforming my inner thoughts into reality. Much like an architect or urban planner, that reality and humor becomes the foundation of the work. Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, a totally vertical and intense environment, I now live in Frenchtown, NJ. The rural countryside by contrast to the city is horizontal and peaceful."
