semi-sweet
by Oluchi Okafor
while I pray ladybugs land on white painted toes
to connect dots of longevity and good fortune over your journey
tell me about gardens that transcend botanical wonderlands
while we taste semi-sweet in stained glass on nighttime-dark-green covered hills.
let us consume liquid courage until we walk sideways
on sidewalks
and chase the night till it tells us to stop.
I am not interested in the fundamentals of balance today
instead teach me principle when the sun wakes up
and my yearning finds inexplicable reason to dance in the darkness again.
Oluchi Okafor (they/them) is a queer writer, poet, and creative from Lagos, Nigeria. Oluchi explores relationships, community, and queerness in their creative, literary approach. They enjoy music, manga, and fashion when they are not romanticizing their life through poetry. This is Oluchi’s first submission to a literary magazine. Check out more here.