If the Villain Is Absence

by grace (ge) gilbert

If the villain is absence, I write over and over again, then all we see are reactions to it. 
Villain once meant peasant, low-born. 
It’s easy to mislay the villain if the villain is negative space. 
Without means from outside. 
Like from outside, I see the family at the table.

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ABOUT THE CREATOR

Creator photo by Luiza Folegatti

grace (ge) gilbert is the author of holly (YesYes Books, forthcoming), finalist for the 2023 Pamet River Prize. they teach poetry and hybrid image:text workshops at the Minnesota Center for Book Arts and Brooklyn Poets. @geg2us on Twitter. @g_eva__ on Instagram. gracegegilbert.com

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