Amber Walker

En Cachette (2022)

(after Lucy Liu)

have you been a mess of colour?

wrapped neatly in a silk napkin
who have you been fed to?

how were you eaten?
i’ve been a secret and it was horrible

and it was horrible
but i lived in the end

i still chose to grip flesh tightly

how long have you been a mess?

wiped up with a red napkin
have you been fed today?

are you as full as the sea
ripe with sound?    i’ve been loud

before and it was wonderful
and it was wonderful

i still chose to grip flesh tightly

About this work

En Cachette is an ekphrastic poem based on a painting by Lucy Liu, discussing shame and queer desire.
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