One Poem Only is a daily ritual: one poem, center stage, just for now.

Butterflied, oh

Yonsiri Rojas

I

fish-eyed, butterflied collection

of furrowed bones composed of dust

and glitter scattered throughout the meadow

the gray-hued calcium boughs quiver

at the poisonous, foetid breath of their beast…

a skin sack stuffed with long rancid meat;

sheathed in tettered flesh, a machete

II

a blood-colored glass of something

hails onto the peppermint braids of greenery

altogether the beasts croon about glory, thorns, wars

fortresses built off your pearly lament sprout from the land

moonlight bathes the so-called clique of control

as merciful - but cunning - death abates the tempest.

More from Yonsiri Rojas ↓

1. @lvrimar and @florerlia on Instagram
2. @lvrimar on Substack

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I’m filling the next chapter of One Poem Only and would love to include your work. Send me the poem you wrote and want the world to hear. New this round: if you’d like to read your own poem on the podcast, you can. No need for a perfect studio recording—just a clear audio file recorded in a quiet space. If you choose this option, you’ll submit your poem and an audio file of you reading it. Submissions close Thursday, July 30. I’ll respond by August 12. Whether I read your poem or you read it yourself, I’d love to hear what you’re ready to share.

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