limerence

by Venus Anani

you don’t deserve poetry,

you monster.

You cunning thing.

You pitch black holy pyre,

I would devour you if I could.

Rid the world of your sweetness,

and patience,

free myself from this hunger.

this revolting Want.

I am a creature of habit.

You will find my belly full of the most delicate things,

I do not believe in purity.

after the bile swallows you whole you are simply a rotting seraphim

and I will not forgive my appetite for craving the celestial,

I have eaten your kind before, dear one.

My canines will pull you apart with ease

I am masterful in my method,

you will feel no pain.

For I could never hurt you.

Would never claw at my own throat as you slide through me

Would never risk wrenching the wings from your unsullied back

You,

Are pestilence.

My own bright pink plague.

And how does one go about consuming their own sickness without sacrifice?

No.

I cannot give you poetry.

But here is my mouth.

And here are my teeth.

And here is the body

that you can do with as you please.

Venus Anani is 19 years old and from Montgomery County, Maryland, and Accra, Ghana. They love writing in all forms, especially poetry. Venus uses writing to make sense of their pains and identity.

Illustration by Tesfay Saleh-Batts