CHILD, RE-IMAGINED AS ROASTED CRAB
By Caitlin Villacrusis
do you know I ask for you, begging you to save me,
and you never answer? it seems the waves come harder each night,
tears surging where they once sought only my fingers wavering along the horizon.
tightening throat, instead choking my fingers. splitting bones. dna.
death sentence. don’t remind me how they will strip me how they did you,
language the first to go. god next. gold chain last. squeeze out any persevering
memories you can’t consume.
mother is calling for you too. don’t mind the mess.
in the end, she washes her hands clean of you.
UNRELIABLE NARRATOR & HER PET GUINEA PIG
By Caitlin Villacrusis
Caitlin Villacrusis is a Filipina-American poet, a passionate photojournalist, and a self-confessed pessimist. A communications major and junior at a South Florida arts school, she is a Miami Book Fair “Speak Up” Student Ambassador and Poetry Mentee. Her work has been recognized by Gigantic Sequins and the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers. She is an avid fan of New York School poets, Greek myths, and Marvel movies and can be found on Instagram at @catrose2022 or Twitter at @caitlinvwrites.