Fainting Goat

I would weave in the tears of a mermaid, the breath of my love, and the drop of the ocean

The current ongoing erasing of the rights of marginalized groups in society deeply affects the people all around, as well as myself.

I saw a photo of myself from freshman year

I didn’t love how I looked, cringed at it—a knee-jerk reaction to my ugly, green shoelaces—but not necessarily just because of my physical appearance

When you are old

Your skin will become like paper,

And your bones will be like the wooden ribs

Of a lantern

So that the world will see the light in your chest.

But I don't need to wait

The sun is warm against my face

The sky is bright blue filled with fluffy clouds

The flowers bloom in every shade of pink, red, and yellow

The laughter of friends and family fill the air