don’t you think your body is also your family
Dana Belott
it’s true i used to be painted
blue paper on the walls now
i see myself and my mother
in another dimension soaring
down the cliffside we are quiet
crows but laughter cracks
our chest wide open changing
physically i’m a door
swinging every so often
i open out to blinding light
Dana Belott is a trans poet, multidisciplinary artist, and teacher from woodsy suburban New Jersey. Their work explores ghosts, queer desire, and the body. Dana got their MFA from Pratt Institute after 5 years teaching creative writing in middle and high schools. Dana also received a 2025 Finalist award from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts.