Release the dictionary eaten whole, the bird swallowing a fish, in case it chokes you. Escape the mind fog. Unburden your broken back.

Let the old words butterfly your face, your hands, colour you gold, purple, red and blue.

Let them undo your reinvention: unearth the person you’ve always been.

Alison Woodhouse writes short and long fiction, has work forthcoming in Ellipsis 3 and Leicester Writes Anthology, has been short- and long-listed in various competitions, and has won Adhoc and matter magazine competitions.