Jessica Hudgins
SCALDING

She has killed hundreds
of chickens like this.
Their last sight is the pleated
corner-skin of her mouth.
She comes empty-handed,
armed to the teeth.

Later, when she pours
hot water from the cast-iron kettle,
her wedding ring sweats
in the steam.

Jessica Hudgins is currently earning her M.F.A. at Johns Hopkins University. Her work is forthcoming in Portland Review and Glassworks.

Image credit:Boston Public Library on Flickr 

Read more from Cleaver Magazine’s Issue #9.