Dream About a Giant, Me-Obsessed Octopus

By Bryanna Licciardi

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Woke to ghost prints 
of tentacles 
around my wrist
before remembering
that grip 
is just carpal tunnel. 

I’m this dark bed,
in this pain that calls my body
self-indulgent, 
in sheets that convince me 
there are so many ways
to be small. 

Eventually, I sink 
towards sleep, asking again
for more dreams 
of a giant thing 
that wants me.