by CL Bledsoe
My child was born pyrokinetic,
daughter then son, something in between
that’s the best of both. They can make
fire with words, fire with eyes. My child
burns brighter than the sun being reborn.
Their potential is immeasurable, more
than the cups and spoons of normality
can pinch off. Their eyes smell of smoke,
of bright chaff burning. The cracklep
on the wind. Yazoo City never heard
as much applause. Hard as diamond,
the stress of the world holds its place
in their side-eye. A miracle in combatp
boots. The sun in black. The world
hates unicorns. That’s why you see
so few.
daughter then son, something in between
that’s the best of both. They can make
fire with words, fire with eyes. My child
burns brighter than the sun being reborn.
Their potential is immeasurable, more
than the cups and spoons of normality
can pinch off. Their eyes smell of smoke,
of bright chaff burning. The cracklep
on the wind. Yazoo City never heard
as much applause. Hard as diamond,
the stress of the world holds its place
in their side-eye. A miracle in combatp
boots. The sun in black. The world
hates unicorns. That’s why you see
so few.
Raised on a rice and catfish farm in eastern Arkansas, CL Bledsoe is the author of more than thirty books, including the poetry collections Riceland, The Bottle Episode, and his newest, Having a Baby to Save a Marriage, as well as his latest novels If You Love Me, You’ll Kill Eric Pelkey and The Devil and Ricky Dan. Bledsoe lives in northern Virginia with his teenager.
