Poison

by Sumayyah Uddin


To all things beautiful and poisonous, fireflash of monarch wing
Vivid ivy freshfaced and shining, oleander, salamander
Cigarette smoke hanging in cold air, air hangs with autumn star spores, deathbirth and Libra,
Poison frog bluered, glowing spot of sapphireruby, fang tooth claw sting!
Your eyes across the room; blue and shallow tidepools, belladonna sparkle
Burning yellowblue octopus like electric flame, fronds brushing darts along legs in water,
Fronds brushing darts on aortic nerves; bacillus rattling rice in innermost darkness

Lying down, opencup heart spilling poison, poison, poison


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