Soon, soon the spiral
Comes nakedly twisting,
Opening like a fruit rind
Against the blade.
Stepping down, precarious
In corrugated flesh,
One tastes, one fills the mouth,
Dreading the empty end
And the tongue’s rebellion.

Khadijah Queen was born near Detroit and raised in Los Angeles.  She recently spent five years in the Navy and is currently completing an undergraduate degree in English.  Her work has been included in Pierian Springs, Samsara Quarterly, The Pedestal Magazine, Stirring, Third Muse, Three Candles, The Adirondack Review, and Side_reality, among others.  One of her poems was nominated for the 2002 Pushcart Prize.