Under 25 Poetry USA –

"The Cavity" by Anna Yowler

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January 15th, 2026

The Cavity

by Anna Yowler

when, in my longing, i had reached out,
feeling my hand sink into my bedroom wall
which had transformed into Your flesh.
i dreamed that all four corners of You,
monstrous, red, and pulsing 
would close in on me, smother me,
swallow me whole, like that big beast that ate up jonah.
that You may open your lips slightly
letting salt water cleanse my hair, sting my eyes,
burn me.
i dreamed that You might use that rough, raw tongue of yours,
a persian rug,
to scoop me up, strip me 
and bestow upon me white linens and prayers for You only,
 
but all cavities must be spat out, ex-communicated,
and sweet obsession had rotted me, 
turned me into black slime, decay in the guise of a pearl.
You left the vein attached to me, 
bloody, aching.
 
i was once a mere baby tooth.

About the Poet
Anna Yowler resides in Strasburg, Pennsylvania, United States.
Read the poet's biography and Under 25 Poetry publications on Anna Yowler's Artist Page.

Under 25 Poetry Collection
This poem is also featured in Under 25 Poetry Collection #1, published in the Under 25 Poetry Library.

Keywords: Jonah, body horror, infatuation, prayer

Previously published in Under 25 Poetry USA:
"There are bones here but" (first line)
by Alina Amin

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