self is not a pack of she
self is not a pack of she
or he-wolf
self is fear of living not as she-wolf
or any pronoun
self is vibration
self is the choice to pinch self’s cheek
self is the space between body
self is the body of wolf
self is red
root of red and white bryony
and rose water for she who lacks redness
a red color will appear as if natural
self is space
between woman
gendersex wulf
to choose gender wolf
and sex wolf both
lightly burnt and live electric
fur is upright flexing grass
to identify as packless wolf—
wulf a pronoun and a name—
wolf tooth wolf paw
both waiting wulf baying
at miles of distance a claw pressing
deeper into mud a message when
the curse is broken the word is read
skinning imminent still wulf waits
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Nicole Oquendo is a writer, artist, and teacher in Central Florida. Her essays and poetry have appeared in DIAGRAM, fillingStation, Gulf Stream, Sundog Lit, and Menacing Hedge, among others. She is currently serving as an Assistant Editor for Sundress Publications, and the Nonfiction Editor for Best of the Net.