THERE IS A LUMP IN MY THROAT THE SIZE OF YOUR NAME

Well, here’s the thing-
I lied, and I’m sorry, and
it’s exactly as you imagined, and
I’m sorry, and-

With one long taloned
finger he hushes me,
leans in and kisses
my forehead and
I YIELD
I yield
I yield!
Culpability calcifies
inside my stomach and
oh, you’ve done it now.
I’m leaving,
I’M RUNNING,
I’m leaving him behind
just to feel
something - anything, and
time is split
down the centre
the soft, wet innards
sliced in two-
and and and
there is only
before him and
after him and
before nectar sticky kisses and
after nectar sticky kisses and
before slow-dancing in the kitchen
while hard turnips turn soft and
after slow-dancing in the kitchen
while hard turnips turn soft and
I’m running out of things to say,
except and
and except of course I still love you
and except

You’re not really the devil,
are you? You’re just a sweet
kid who likes the taste of
his own blood.

---

Dakota Warren, 25, London - UK ✯ IG: @fairy_bl00d & TT: @sp3llb00k ✯ www.nowheregirl.space

“Lady Dakota (aka Nowhere Girl) is a poetess and performer who climbed out of the depths of an overly religious rural Australia and hasn’t stopped running since. She eats words for breakfast and listens exclusively to Chet Baker in autumn. ON SUN SWALLOWING (finalist for Goodreads Choice Best Poetry Book 2022) is her debut poetry collection and NOWHERE GIRL COLLECTIVE is her freshly birthed baby.”