Photography: Urban Inferno by Adrielle Lanae

 

Poetry: Ink by D.Z. Roshal

 Some nights, I break down

And write song lyrics on my bare legs in permanent marker,

As if I'm not going to regret it the next day.

But ink washes away faster than grief does

And scrubbing at the ink the next morning gives me something to do.

Some days I can almost convince myself

That the sweet-smelling soap will wash away my loneliness,

That the towel will wipe away my anger.

But a few days later, I'll write on myself again,

And all the cleaning will have been for nothing.

 

This poem was also included in a recently-published short collection of poetry, short fiction, and personal essays. Check out the author's book here! https://www.blurb.com/b/10764047-wanderer

Photography: Blanched Skeleton by Adrielle Lanae

 

Oil Painting: Best Friend by Jane Forrest