Content Warning: violence, death, blood
CV Tibbett – Changeling
I have had very few pleasures in life,
like I nursed on faerie food and now
all is bland or
bitter ashes
Even dancing is not the same; there
is a wildness in me
Begging Mother to stand idle by with
arms outstretched—I fall
heartily underground
through soil
through things we call weeds and pests
through things we do not
understand yet
Mother does not catch me
She does not know how,
shaking fawn with knocking knees
wobbling ’cross the fields
I am woken up by angry bleating I find
to be my own
My instincts coat my gums
Impulse chomps my teeth—
I wish to bite into her neck, head
clean off
I wish to dine like a proud king
Raucous, heady, dirty
Splashing dark blood up from
her body
I tell myself it is sacrifice
It is ritual
but it is truly just
Revenge
CV Tibbett (they/them) is a queer bartender born and raised in the southern United States. A lover of art, food, music, and all things passion, they strive to inject a bit of funk wherever they can. They’re thrilled to publish their first piece with Acropolis! Stay tuned for more updates on Twitter @chlopacetic
Artwork: The Poisoner by Helen Gwyn Jones
Helen Gwyn Jones (she/her) started recording her world at the age of 8 when she bought a Brownie camera from her sister, something which has become a lifelong passion. A collector of the past (hers and other people’s) she likes nothing better than muted images of imperfection. May be found poring over Welsh grammar books when not photographing drains or going into raptures over rust. Recent publications include Hungry Ghost Project, Free Flash Fiction, Acropolis Journal, Paddler Press, Blink-Ink, Hecate, Pareidolia, Moss Puppy, The Levatio, Camas, Subliminal, Terse Instagram / Twitter: @helengwynjones Facebook: Helen Gwyn Jones Photographic Artist