The Lady Lupae

Kim Kitsuragi

straighten your back, soldier. you’ve been waiting for a chance, a smile hidden behind the shell of the world. your longing leaves you tender.

you gave up your fight. you burned out for this: mundane authority. you made yourself ice. I will keep control. I won’t—

I will stay perfect and lonely as the moon. when you touch, it is only burned out houses against the empty sky.

Harry Du Bois

under the weight of the world, alone, the sunrise brings you empty bottles, and regret peels away your skin. leaves you a raw nerve.

love left you, and you betrayed yourself. pale in the winter. melting in the springtime. your dreams, your memories flinch away from you

until you wake, hung over. your head aches. your burning lungs wish to become an explosion of fireworks.

Together

straighten your back under the weight. soldier of the world, you’ve been alone waiting for the sunrise. a chance brings you a smile, hidden behind empty bottles and regret. the shell of the world peels away. your longing leaves you. your skin, tender, leaves you a raw nerve. 

you gave up love. your fight left you. you burned out and you betrayed yourself for this pale, mundane authority. in the winter, you made yourself melting. ice, in the springtime. I will keep your dreams. Control your memories. I won’t flinch away from you.