Those Who Can’t by Taylor Franson-Thiel

Those Who Can’t | Taylor Franson-Thiel

I will teach my daughter how to carry
the body of her mother west,
stepping over the Rockies
to bury her

beneath the red chest of Utah’s desert.
Cup my hands over hers as she
smooths oxidized dirt,
careful to cover the
face first

if it makes her feel better. I will teach her
how all daughters of our lineage bury
many versions of their legacy.
The line of graves,
a long ribcage.

About the Author:

Taylor Franson-Thiel is a Pushcart nominated poet from Utah, now based in Fairfax, Virginia. She received her Master’s in creative writing from Utah State University and is pursuing an MFA at George Mason University. Her writing frequently centers on the intersections between the female body, religion, and her experiences as a college athlete. Along with writing, she enjoys lifting heavy weights and reading fantastic books.