Poetry from Courtney Melvin

Photo: Dave Michuda

Stir

Every morning you ask
Do you still love me?
as if the night erased us.

I say of course.
I say you’re the father of my children.
I say stop being silly.

To admit that I’d stir
your ashes into my coffee,
drink you every day
until your skin was my skin

might make me thirsty,
make me kill and restart you,
swallow and reassemble
you inside of me.
.

.
Courtney Melvin is a mother of four living in the Birmingham, AL suburbs. She’s a word enthusiast, with work published in Ponder Review, Wanderlust Journal, Whiskey Island Magazine, and Flash Fiction Magazine. Courtney is also a storyteller, participating in Arc Stories of Birmingham. She holds a bachelor’s degree in creative writing as well as a master’s degree in marketing and a Master of Business degree with an emphasis on management.