"smoke and salt under starry night" by Eleanor Rose Allen

smoke and salt under starry night

my fingernails are long and stained yellow

each hand occupied with a dirty desire

sweaty glass slipping away and sultry, sweet

flame held between gently curved fingers

i taste like burnt lemon

and look like i have something to prove

my beloved mother moon looks

down on me looking up at her

where did the time go?

another summer singes the leaves

and autumnal paradise whispers

promises through the branches

i put out my flame

take the last sip of watered-down dreams

and don’t bother to wipe away the tears

i have nothing to prove

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Eleanor Rose Allen is a poet and novelist from Kansas. Currently, she is studying English literature and Classics at Kansas State University and works at her local public library.