Bodies of Two Girls Found in the Woods by Christina Stoddard


The sharp ruin of flies. A chilly morning
next to the river where steelhead spawn.
Sunlight bright as a railroad spike.
Clouds bitten by tamaracks. Wind slicing
the leather throats of frogs.
Sweet gums bruised by woodpeckers.
The slow fat rat of the river
gnawing at twenty cold toes.

Christina Stoddard’s poems have appeared in various journals including DIAGRAM, Spoon River Poetry Review, and Slipstream. Originally from Washington State, Christina currently lives in Nashville, TN where she is the Managing Editor of a scholarly journal in economics. She is also a Contributing Editor at Cave Wall. www.christinastoddard.com