Jeremy Radin

Jeremy Radin is a poet, actor, and teacher. He's appeared on several television shows including It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, CSI, ER, and Zoey 101, in films such as The Way Back, starring Ben Affleck and directed by Gavin O'Connor, Terrence Malick's The New World and Wrestlemaniac, and in many plays. His poems have appeared in Ploughshares, Crazyhorse, The Colorado Review, The Journal, and elsewhere. He is the author of two collections of poetry, Slow Dance with Sasquatch (Write Bloody Publishing) and Dear Sal (not a cult press). He lives in Los Angeles. Follow him @germyradin Source

Ode to Your Stretch Marks

Praise now the blushing tally, the full measure

of your expanding grace. Whether by feasting,

childbirth, the years dragging their fingers down

your body, praise. Praise the proof of your delight,

these good roads plunging into the tender folds of your

satin swamp, heavy with heaven. Praise now this inverted

braille that a lover will lick your history out of, that your children

will marvel at. The undone signature of what could not claim you.

Know that Hideous has no further business here we only autograph

what is not longer ours. Praise these hieroglyphics meaning thank you,

meaning rise, meaning all that has entered has left a mark, I am immune

to nothing, thank God, thank God! Praise these gloried lines like creases

in a parachute, zippers opening, reams of elastic, like this is how the body

makes room for what it loves.

Published:

2014

Length:

Shorty

Literary Movements:

Contemporary

Anthology Years:

2023

Themes:

Body & Body Image

Joy & Praise