bones

Written by Finnialla
Art by ArtHouse Studio

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when scientists find my bones in the ground
i hope they understand the experiences that made me myself
display me for other people to see
in a history museum, behind glass
with the other humans they found near me

a line goes out the door
everyone clamors to get a shot
peek at my crooked teeth, the left canine chipped slightly
healed nose from falling off my bike
and they say

this was someone who loved
and someone who lost
they were born and they died
but in between,
they truly lived

so that in this life, if i’m not remembered
i’ll be immortalized with the idea of being human
and remind someone that we’re all the same

the crime of being alive
is something we all go through together
just separated by time
Because the world decided
we’re all the same somehow
Just bones under muscle and skin
and the memories that
make us human

The Coyote

Written by Finnialla
Art by Pixabay

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I awoke with a coyote curled near my feet
eyes of coffee, black, glitter in the moonlight
silver fur shimmer when he moves
his smile transfixing; long white fangs stained pink

“don’t worry.”
just barely above a whisper
“I’m not here to hurt you.”
soft baritone with a hint of his growl,
the melody of words hits my ears
suspending me in his grasp

I follow him into the desert
picnics of cacti fruit and guava juice
last supper among saguaro apostles
tumbleweed devotees lay at our feet

Thick pulp fills our mouths
drips down our chins, sticks to our fingers
indulge in this secret sin
before it turns to ash in our mouths

he walks us to the valley
where the jagged rocks surround us
show the stars of my past
wrap it like the present
point me to the road ahead

tumbleweeds gather at my feet
the coyote stands tall by my side
we run together, claws nip at my heels
small imprints into the cracked soil below

we’ll sing to our ancestors above, our voices carry
as we dance along the mountains
the coyote’s owner comes in the morning
dawn breaks over the peaks

the ferryman holds out his hand
thank momma for the money in my pocket
he’ll guide me through the river
a hooded gondolier
to the promised land on the other side

modern prometheus

Written by Finnialla
Art by Dringo Diniz

---

you clawed stretch marks into my face
roadmaps stretch planes of my back
bruised, broken, bathed in sweat
rearranged my insides to your liking
dr frankenstein, I’m your monster
build me into the ultimate fantasy
discarded the unnecessary parts

lightning struck my fancy
electrified my heart, beats arrhythmic rhythms
crisp, blackened edges
scars stretched over my body like tree roots
rot seeped, turned into sepsis
shaky foundation for a love so fragile
touched up my paper skin with absorene
keep it from turning to dust

alchemist love, chemical honeymoons
given no tongue to speak
stitched back together
mangled limbs, atrophied muscles
covered in chanel hospital gowns and pearl neck bolts
permanent smile lines and rosy cheeks

a mad scientist’s experiment
companionship created in test tubes
beating my still undead heart
filling metallic lungs with air I don’t need

poked and prodded with pitchforks
gaslit in torch blazes at my feet
a creation feels no happiness in existing
the version of me
that makes him happy
so, devour my body whole
suffocate me in smoke
burn the ashes of my bones
gnaw out a chunk of neck
spit it out on the carpet
let me rest once again

Watermelon Resistance

Written by Finnialla
Art by Craig Dennis

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it’s hard to write poetry when people are dying
birds don’t sing during a genocide
children’s bodies replace their laughter
apathy of those in power
the warm hands of their parents never come

the world collectively cries, an ocean filled with grief
watermelon rinds and green olive pits
screams for peace until their voice gives out
barbed wire open faced prisons

martyrs line the cemeteries
phosphorus walls with war criminal handprints
clawing at the rubble and desecrating the ashes
explosions shakes the ground
bombs make the night day

a single iris stands in resistance
it’s petals towards the sky
when one day,
the stars come back
And the night is silent

it’ll get easier

Written by Finnialla
Art by Asia i Seweryn

---

inner child’s been discarded
grow up too quick, damage too early
the pain hardens into resentment
blood boils in her body
begs for freedom

lights snuffed while it’s still dark
monsters climb into the twin bed
rip at her paper thin skin
sink their teeth into her throat
tear out her vocal chords
devouring her whole

warm tears flood her wounds
briers crush her small wrists, snap her bones
screams suffocate; the world is unforgiving
her body becomes calcified, fingers grow into claws

fight until demons to dust; scars to memories
sewn together with barbed wire
pieces missing, decaying flesh peppers her cheeks
wrap herself in makeup, file her fangs down
hide in plain sight until the night arrives
and her true colors show.

daisies

Written by Finnialla
Art by Daniel Ellis

---

daisies sprout out of gun barrels
clasped hands reach across the ocean:
in a perfect world,
children’s dreams echo from politicians taut lips
instead of nuclear codes

young boys die for old men’s ego
generations buried. In a foreign land
mothers bury empty boxes.
Children are their own parents overnight.

bloodied flags raised,
held up beside the bodies of martyrs
souls of the forgotten.
Faceless numbers in history books
oil dipped hands wrap around victim’s neck;,
wring out every last drop

doves are gassed out
Shooting stars over the sleepless night
Make a wish.

Watch the sunflowers sprout
out of rusty tanks.

When daisies sprout out of the gun barrels,
and peace reigns.

reach out and touch

Written by Finnialla
Art by Nida Kurt

---

the corners of your mouth slide into a smile
when you think of her
makes my stomach twist
my heart stops.

small glances backwards
the glint in your eyes
sighs that fall between your lips
I could inhale your scent
taste it when I please
hold it in me forever.

the world pulling at the strings of my heart
make a knot
cut off my tongue
I sink into silence
loving you from afar.

If you knew,
you’d pull the ropes of my body tighter
keep me as a broken piece of myself
it would still be enough
to let me live forever.

attention whore

Written by Finnialla
Art by Feyza Tuğba

---

my lifeless body floating in broken dreams
limelight sins decomposing my limbs
death by overexposure
media spectacle for others to profit

brand deals wrap around my throat
suffocate the canary in an algorithm mine
stretch my distorted smile with enough fillers
filters permanently scarring ageless skin

brazilian personality lift my spirits
monetary distractions buy temporary happiness
unregulated meds for a cinched feed
numb the pain, the feelings behind a camera

sun burnt clipped wings melted to my dewy flesh
cancel the ideas that plague waking moments
leeches attach on hearts, feast on the weak
breathes in the kiss of smog

beat my face to the gods of the city
laid to rest among the stars
veneered smiles, glassy eyes
their 15 minutes of fame

Promises

Written by Finnialla
Art by Plato Terentev

---

Promises aren’t meant to break
or, Shatter from my touch.
Bared teeth, barbed tongue
Closet skeletons need dusting
Neighbors haven’t called the police yet

Rip out my heart and consume it
Shred into pieces
Decayed flesh, rotten insides
Break my body and destroy my soul

Burn bridges when you get to them
Tied to a stake, smoke overwhelms my lungs
Dragged into darkness
Holding my breath for as long as I can
Clawing for a semblance of love

Cries for help to an unforgiving god
Unheard pleas turn to disdain
Another statistic, another unknown face
Paupers’ funeral with wilted flowers
Grow out from my broken bones

paradise on the west coast

Written by Finnialla
Art by Michael King

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sunset dreamers, disillusioned stars
patina on the palm trees that sway in the wind
ocean waves lap at the piers beams
sea foam gets stuck in your hair

redwoods wind their way up the houses
pillars of sand and botox injections
bend and break and leave you to the wolves
if only I had connections in this town

tourist trap house stirs from the underground
cragged rockstars caked in foundation
hopes and dreams go to die
swallowed by the hot desert sun

rodeo driving down, opulence oozes
fashion dens of iniquity
weight loss surgery
take my picture till I go blind
and bury me with the rest

shattered promises line the streets
letters light up the sky
a city of angels
of demons galore
and of everyone in-between.