Railer

Railer

Eréndira Ramírez-Ortega

Shut the closet door when it vibrates.
Seal it to silence those 
Above us.

I wish I wasn't so petty about these things.
Like that asperity over a decade ago.
Do you remember her?

How in a fit of rage she burst
And her head fell off 
In front of her husband,

In front of you and me—
A subject, unhinged.
An object, misplaced.

Her head rolled under my dress—
The body, torn asunder.
This inevitable operation.

We stepped away quietly,
Transformed into a footstool. 
Closed the door against

Our chests.
Locked it shut from 
The wolves.

---

Eréndira Ramírez-Ortega
Writer & Poet

Eréndira writes fiction, essays, and poetry. She’s writing a novel. Find her list of published work here: www.erortega.com/writings

Photography by Nathan Dumlao