Play Dead
This poem was published in 2021 by The Rumpus. “Play Dead” is part of their ENOUGH: Beauty in Bruising series. ENOUGH is a Rumpus series devoted to creating a space for essays, poetry, fiction, comics, and artwork by women, trans, and nonbinary people that engage with rape culture, sexual assault, and domestic violence. “Play Dead” is about hiding in smallness and stillness to survive violence and abuse.
The Rumpus publishes original fiction, poetry, literary humor writing, comics, essays, book reviews, and interviews with authors and artists. They strive to be a platform for risk-taking voices.
Listen Now
But there’s only so long
Play Dead
You can play dead
Before it kills you.