ALTERNATIVE FACTS: my truth lies somewhere in between the dark and the light

Artwork by Olivia Bossert

I cling

To my meds,

To my pen,

To my words,

To hope.

I dress my nails in woohoo-pink

A candy-bright reminder,

To chin-up,

To keep-the-faith

Even as faint scratch marks

Etch alternative facts

Into surfaces as delicate

As my loneliness.

My poetry book, ILLICIT CROISSANTS AT DAWN, will be available soon.

Cover and artwork by Olivia Bossert