Reptile Moves

Abstract

Reptile Moves Ximena Keogh Serrano (bio) I climb outside my bodythe way I did when I was fifteen climbing outside our house windowthe way I did when I was born climbing out of mamá’s belly-homeNow again, a fire-y invocation How to return? This flesh never belonged to me only echoed outsidelife-ruins Malleability of skin like test Witness herehow a soul escapes To learn from the scenes of a gushing—what bleedsfrom square glassblade-view A self, buddinginto soarsof confetti [End Page 306] Ximena Keogh Serrano Ximena Keogh Serrano is a poet and scholar of Latin American and U.S. Latinx literary and cultural studies. Her research and writing move across genres of literary criticism, visual culture, and studies in gender and sexuality. She is an assistant professor at Pacific University, and lives in Portland, Oregon. She can be reached at xkserrano@pacificu.edu. Copyright © 2023 Ximena Keogh Serrano