Mantis 20 (Spring 2022)
New Poetry

Eli Dunham


SMALLER THAN BEFORE

you, the hole of my quiet

thinking stone a consciousness

w/ limbs tender like history

tender like gravity my

stubborn imagination

negotiates, i mean bargains

the emotional residue my

gentle thinking stone

smaller than before

sequin in the night


ELI DUNHAM is a queer, neurodivergent poet living in Sacramento, CA. You can find their work in DreamPop, GASHER, Heavy Feather Review, Indefinite Space and elsewhere. They are currently working towards an MS in Counseling at Sacramento State with an emphasis on supporting LGBTQ+ youth.