poetry by JosephineWhittock
dermatomillomania (the wound eternally spread)
pressing into the wound / good-nausea / indulgent-disgusting / ropey muscle / insides on the outside / bite the lip / peel the skin / lick copper from flesh / lick pus from the cut / sparkling wine / push against / sensorimotor / swallow thick / keep touching / bedrot / tear up / curl up together / lie down alone / gushing blood / pick the scab / don’t get up / lint stuck to the cut / still hungry / sequester the self / amontillado / too cute / stroke the raw skin / bite it / lick the wound / lick your fingers / more weight / press down / retractor / get woozy / get told to stop / don’t / head between the knees / good-sick / strike the calendar / move closer / dark in blood / brick by brick / bite the flesh / lick saliva / knees to chest / pillow-suffocate / breathe saliva / count to four / steady yourself / exhale manually / pick the scab / lick pus from the cut / repeat-repeat / push head into stomach / chase the touch / sleep well / sleep rough / ugly-disgusting / dream / hands to chest / burn the skin / sorry-sorry / too-too-cute / lie down alone / bite your cheeks / swallow salt / break the barrier / get asked to stop / stop (of course you’ll stop) / lie down alone / bite the wound / probe with your tongue / bunny-bunny / break the skin / pull tight around neck / stroke the cut / press ever deeper / ebb / lie down alone / move closer / open the flesh / pillow-breathe / brush against it / hurt / brush against it / hurt / brush against it / hurt / get told to stop / don’t ( )
Josephine Whittock (she/her) is a horror and weirdfiction writer based in the West Coast. Her work has been published in Arkana, bodyfluids, and Speak the Sojourner. She enjoys spooky games, baking for her friends, and contemplating what it means to be a digitalgirl. You can find her at @words.by.jw on Instagram.