Photo by Chandler Cruttenden on Unsplash
hunger has lived on long enough
and the autumn rain gives it strength
to live through hibernal
to settle amongst powdery debris
and slow its breath
while you slow yours
when the time comes
the guard around your heart weakens
while embers burn in smokestacks
this time of symbolic suffering
is enough to torch
least hunger keeps its temporary distance
by good fortune of coincidence
or her nature’s doing
over hours of desolate pondering
in frozen root-rot
and composts of unattainable dreams
the ice melts
while breath quickens
and for a shudder,
fulfillment strikes
until hunger thaws
and recollects its duty
praising rain of autumn
and of spring
for they have given it the power of breadth
to banish any morsel of satisfaction
that filled those in their sorrowed slumber
Colby Flade (he/him) is a queer writer, artist, avid drinker of coffee, and student based in Chicago. He is the author ofThe Smell of the Light Blue House in Summertime (2021), Menthol (2022), andShort Sweet Simple: Love Poems (Bottlecap Press, 2022). His poetry & visual art pieces have appeared/are forthcoming inThe Oyez Review, Beyond Words Literary Magazine, Beyond Queer Words, Wild Roof Journal, Drunk Monkeys, and elsewhere. Find Colby on Instagram: @theflade