Ephemeral

Makaila Aarin

As darkness settles, I pluck petals
from purple cosmos beside your grave,
forming a pile that will soon shrivel and fade.
I trim each bloom to its stem, leaving
them in the plastic vase to decay,
hastened by humid air that labors breath.
I crane my neck, cursing every sparkle
that returns to shine above lost lives.
I ache to snuff out the moon, steal the stars,
pack them in my purse, defuse each flame
until I’ve stripped the sky of light.

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Makaila Aarin works as an academic librarian in Mississippi where she lives with her three rescue dogs. She holds degrees in English, library science, and education. Currently, she is pursuing an MFA in creative writing. Her poetry has appeared in Prismatica Magazine, Stone of Madness, Poetically Magazine, Dwelling Literary, and other magazines. Her work is forthcoming in Versification Zine and Sinister Wisdom. Find her on Twitter: @makaila_aarin

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