After Frannie Choi
leaving, good daughters staying home with the light switched on. bad daughters find
god in the pulpit of a man, lay their ear to his chest and listen to the hum of his
holy spirit. good daughters wash the dishes, bad daughters wash in rivers under
an unfolding moon, dance as the silver splits their skin. bad daughters sip
and then gulp and then swallow, good daughters smile without show-
ing teeth bad daughters pick at the skin around their thumbs
praying the loose end will keep unravelling, bad daughters
fray, only when they are alone, especially when they
know god is not listening, good daughters ask
for permission and forgiveness, bad daugh-
ters take what is there, swear
they’ll never do it again,
promise to be better
in the morning.
ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTOR
Lola Oh
is a Brit(ish) poet, born to a Jamaican mother and a Nigerian father. Based in South London, Lola uses her work to explore blackness, family, and loss. Lola is currently a member of Griot’s Well, is an alumn of the Roundhouse Poetry Collective and Barbican Young Poets, and was a finalist in the 2021 Roundhouse Poetry Slam.