vessel punish honey by nina jane drystek

“vessel punish honey” was an honourable mention for the 2022 Priscila Uppal Memorial Award for Poetry.

derived from vas     vascular redirects here
          arteries          capillaries
               arterioles       venules
                    veins
five types carry & exchange          upwards
conducting water & mineral               through xylem
          clubmosses          gymnosperms
               horsetails              ferns
                    flowering             tracheophytes
                         windpipe plants
          lymphatics
                         thin-walled tubes
carry               drain               valve
               they contract          & relax
reservoirs for plasma          & other substances
          concentrated          by the force of gravity
                            in its center    
spherical cap          seamless curve
          round dish          container
               any shape          to prepare & serve
                    for serving & eating
typically
     a bowl          beaker jar mug quaich ochoko teacup
          trembleuse
                         in other words cup
                              from cuppe          from cuppa
                                   perhaps cupa   
                                                           to tub
                                                      to cask
                       to hold gases or liquids
                       apply pressure
                       substantially
                       different from ambient
boats          ships     submarines     propulsion
sail oar paddle engine      distinct from floating       
singular          a documentary film
          an album an album an album
                                 a video album
plural          albums albums albums
singular          songwriter
          of the album for the making
               of this poem

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nina jane drystek writes poetry, prose & performance exploring the curiosities of language. she is the co-founder & co-curator of Riverbed Reading Series with Ellen Chang-Richardson, often hosts events for the Ottawa International Writers Festival, & sits on the editorial board of Arc Poetry Magazine. in her day-to-day, nina jane works as a manager of digital communications with Spruce Creative.