You Are Not Just Anything

Poem by Mason O’Hern

A cento from the poetry of Kevin Kantor

Some days,
my gender is a nameless grave

I am trying to soften my steel
be less howl or full moon

I am trying to write
a poem in which I am neither a monster nor a martyr

Today,
I will not apologize
when I do not know
who I am playing

MASON O’HERN received their BA from Bradley University in 2017, in English and Creative Writing. Their poetry has appeared in several journals, including Red Cedar Review and Spoon Knife.

Fifth place winner of the 2018 Luminaire Award for Best Poetry