I.

the world’s favorite color is blue

because oceans haunt dreams, leave teeth marks on cheeks

 

the kids who sit on turtle shells, who eat fish raw

their favorite color is four

avoid decisions

avoid mothers in the kitchen packing lunches with expired tuna

for fathers out collecting scallops

II.

a charlatan god

taught the kids what reincarnation means

 

drowning and sprouting wings

becoming blue morpho butterflies

 

god also told them

eat each other’s wings down to the spine

until sick of butterfly fibers, splintered bone between teeth

 

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 Emily is a graduate of Susquehanna University with a BA in Writing and a BA in Publishing. She has work published in HOOT, Rock & Sling, The Apeiron Review, and Stone Canoe. When she isn’t writing, she can be found reading fantasy novels or watching Top Ten videos on Youtube.