Solar Flare
Jasmina Kuenzli
This golden hour light
Highlights the window’s flaws.
The streaks and drips of dirt
That only got moved around
I devour myself
An ouroboros
I just want something to eat alive
Besides my own body
I am afraid to write the stronger words
I am not supposed to be able to say them
Through the chrysalis
And the skeletal trees
Which, from this angle
Block out more than half the sky
The world comes alive
But I can’t look past
The carapace husks,
The pretty dead things.
The sky is just painted blue
A prop of background setting
When I reach up
I’ll get paint on my fingers.
Jasmina Kuenzli is an author of poetry, creative nonfiction, and fiction and has been published with Capsule Stories, Pidgeonholes, The Mark Literary Review and many others. When she isn’t writing, Jasmina can be found weightlifting, running, and holding impromptu dance parties in her car. Her life goals include landing a back flip, getting legally adopted by Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, and being a contributor on Drunk History. She would like to thank Brenna and Sarah, who hear all these stories first, and Harry Styles, who is sunshine distilled in a human being.