FRANKENSTEIN’S LOVER
Love, as in / the thing / we found / on the side of the / road / cast out / of another family's / window / love, as in / the quiet thing / we cup in our hands / at 3am / when conversation slips into silence / and dreams walk / between us / love, as in / the thing we scream / as we careen down the street / make-up smeared / while we make these veins /run/ with fresh blood / love, as in the thing that melts / your hand / into mine / love, as in the thing that unlocks / the forgotten child / from the closet / to discover there are whole / rooms / of people waiting / for them/ love, as in / the thing that pulses in our / outcast bodies / dancing / running / towards each / Other / love, as in / I love you / friend / as in / you have changed me / as in I will be transformed / by love / as in mutated / as in softened / as in shared / like a segment / of a ripe plum / as in / this raindrop / has found / the sea/ and is no longer / a tear.
V. Matsumari, 22, London/Melbourne/Auckland ✯ IG: @vmatsumari
“Vee (they/them) is a queer writer living in London. They have previously written for Farrago (Australia), Rat World (Aotearoa/New Zealand), and their Substack Matsumari. When they're not rearranging black lines on a page, they can be found reading under a tree, exploring local waterways, or hosting a dinner party with friends.”