adolescence, a.d. (December 2025)

adolescence

i dreamt in angel speak. i wove

            verses on the insides of my wrists.

i gathered the corpses

            of flowers to pin like butterflies

in my hair. i let the sun penetrate me;

            i was all about the sun

those days, addicted to any eye

            that would trail me. every night

i fingered myself to sleep,

            let my body be abducted

by faceless strangers. i laced my heart

            to a boy who wanted me

as both lover and testament. i offered

            up my throat to anyone

who looked upon me, wanting

            to shake off my virginity like a dog

its hounding leash. i was fast-loving

            like the summer;

i wore off.