& this is my secret work, to be worthy

& this is my secret work, to be worthy

After a line by Ada Limón

nat raum

& these are the wires between 

synapses that make me want. 

this is my secret heart, made

of sugarglass even though i 

sheathe her in steel for show. 

this is my covert undercarriage 

of fine porcelain, polished daily.

this is my wishing to be wanted.

nat raum (b. 1996) is a queer disabled artist and writer based on unceded Piscataway and Susquehannock land in Baltimore. They’re the editor-in-chief of the fifth wheel press and the author of you stupid slut, the abyss is staring back, random access memory, and several others. Find them online: natraum.com/links