a poem

by Annika Kron

gone is my childhood

of golden, grass-stained days

of frozen maple syrup in january

of sun-warmed blackberries in august

gone are the purple sparkles

gone are the pigtails and hairclips

gone are the rubber boots

they will never be mine again

but

if the tide is high

and the moon is waxing

and i am nurturing enough

i will once again come to know

the life cycle of a girl

i am mouth

my body feels not

my legs numb up to my hips

my waist numb up to my chin

my words meaningless

i am mouth

and i consume what is in my path

and i feast

and i eat

and i devour

even the dust in the vicinity

of my gaping self

los dedos del sol me acarician

los rayos me abrazan

la luz me besa

y aunque me quema la espalda

me deja dolida y enrojecida

sus tocas tan dulces

me hechizan una y otra vez

sus dedos,

sus brazos,

sus labios

- relación tóxica

Annika Kron is a college student from the Pacific Northwest. Besides a novice poet, she is also a singer and piano player. You can find her in line at a local coffee shop or on Instagram @annnikakron.

—

translation of the third stanza:

the sun’s rays caress me

her beams hug me 

her light kisses me

and even though it burns my back

it makes me achey and red

her sweet touches

put a spell on me again and again

her fingers

her hugs

her lips

- a toxic relationship