Page 36 - Solstice Art & Literary Magazine 2020

36
COMPULSION
LISA SU
Eyes shut and the sun had risen
The night had whispered of its horrors, plaguing my fantasies
cont.
Padded feet waded over the swamp of clothes atop the grouted tiles Slivers of gel and dust coated the ground
Don’t
Don’t do it Don’t pick it up
don’t quell the desires of the demons
Winter coats should always be behind the summer blouses Right sneakers always one inch ahead of left sneakers Yellow always goes before red
only the bright honey color of yellow could stabilize the harsh and vibrant reds that haunt me
day and night
The fireflies had gone to sleep before I had finished my cleaning, their bright lights dimmed, urging even the moths to windle away
the comforting light was soon overcast by the darkness of night
my blinding white lamp illuminated the shadow of my groaning spine, begging for mercy
What’s bothering you honey?
the nice lady asked, her tacky red lipstick smacked across her lips
stains of scarlet smeared across her mouth from the habit she had of chewing her pencils to their
grave
You
Your flower pot
the cracks and slivers of a bad paint job bred dust and spiders their eight legs gleefully swung
smiling at me
Closed eyes, puckered mouth, I breathed
One in, one out. Two in, two out. Three in three out. Four . . . Twenty seven out.
Nothing
Nothing is bothering me, I replied Nothing is wrong
absolutely nothing
Not your crooked olive glasses
Not your horrid choice of misaligned mahogany drawers Not the inconsistent scratch marks on your door
Not your offbeat clock
Not you
Definitely not you
Nothing is bothering me clearly
Why can’t you see?
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