Shonna Gillis fights with the unknown through her smotth pen melting ink onto the page. She enjoys worshiping the sun in Dolores Park when she’s not manipulating language into complex equations of words and sentences, aimed at solving the perplexities of human existence. See more of her work at her blog. She currently lives in San Francisco.
Parched (an aubade)
By Shonna Gillis
Parched
my tongue unfurls to the dry desert of my mouth
like a snake writhing in a dark cave,
unwinding slow
luring me from the abyss
that is my subconscious unconscious
escaping into the night.
Shades hide the shining forehead of the sun
as the earth rotates
birthing a new day
stealing the night away.
The dream fades along with the shiny flickers
on the backs of my eyelids
and I reach out to they empty space
next to me,
a breathy fear arises due to your absence
my palm flattens the warm gap you’ve left.
I turn away from the window
from the new day
from the hole you’ve created
shattering my complete comfort,
when I see your shadow emerge
in the cracked light of the doorway.
You come closer
holding a glass
a slosh whispers
as you place it in my hand
my fingertips, your knuckles
brush.
I close my eyes,
and put the brim to my lips
the snake writhes in anticipation.
I roll the edge along my bottom lip
before tipping it back
letting the water fall
and slide down the valley
of my throat
and hills that form my esophagus
surfing down like silk sliding off fingertips
The water coats my throat
until it is wet.
with satisfaction
My tongue dances
in the circumference of the empty glass.
My eyes open
and your shadow has evaporated,
next to me
your warmth delivers a shiver,
my thirst quenched
a new day drips closer.
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