I once fashioned a father out of clay.
wrote him into the story that is caged
in my ribs.

gave him a name. I did not intend
for him to play the part of the villain so
splendidly.

he received a standing ovation.
my role in the story was
a simple one.

a minor part in a major key. I refused
to play it. I did not take my leave, break
apart, fall away,

call off the dogs of war set
upon me. that did not stop anyone
from carving their names

in what was supposed to be my coffin.
I did not leave in a shroud, nor a cloud
of mist.

I left like a hurricane leaves land.
I do not regret the scorched earth,
nor trial by fire.

the razed fields where my wildflowers
used to be, nor the bent branches
of uprooted trees.

like an insect in amber, I became entangled
trapped in that no man’s land few dare enter.
none leave.

I got lost in a single moment. he had an ace
of hearts and played it. I went home and heard
the world’s smallest violin

weeping in the corner. listen I was a pawn
but so was he. the fates drew near the world
was ending. for years I woke screaming

until the day I awoke to the gossamer sound of glass
and realized being broken doesn’t protect anyone
from shattering.

he played a major part in a minor war. I said a prayer
for the mountain I thought was a molehill, sang
a dirge for the molehill

I mistook for a mountain. tested every means
of forgetting known to man. remembered
belatedly I was someone else’s daughter.

Caitlin Cacciatore (she/her) is a queer poet, writer, and essayist based on the outskirts of New York City. She believes that literature has the power to change minds and start movements. Her poetry has appeared in Bacopa Literary Review, Sunlight Press, and The Good Life Review. Caitlin has been nominated for a Pushcart Prize and a Best of the Net anthology award, and was long-listed for the international erbacce-prize in 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2025. Additionally, she has two essays slated for release in forthcoming anthologies set to be published in the Autumn of 2025. Website