Content Warning: blood, dark themes

Addissyn House – swallowed

my breastbone, two collar bones, my jugular: holy.

at the center of the cross a monarch butterfly,

and my halo lit by fireflies, waiting.

          I hope this monarch doesn't use my beating

          heart as its way station, nectar and blood.

my breath quickens.

the delicate legs of the butterfly pick

through me      pore by pore.

I try not to breathe so my breastbone won’t move.

                    then the mosquitoes come.

I fear this monarch will dive its proboscis

into my chest cavity,                              so I sit still.

      my heart beats faster,

                              my breath keeping pace and

      the fireflies turn to black flies, diving

      at my ears before returning to orbit—my halo.

mosquitoes eat away at me,

              drawing blood the monarch laps up,

despite a full belly, and tears      sink    slowly

under my chin and wrap around my neck,

                                   filling the holes the monarch left.