by Joshua Effiong

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O tender sunset, O safe landings,
     an onset of beauty lost before bloom.
O purple breath, O blushing heart,
     soft rain bleaching rainbow off the sky.
O deleted files, O unripe memories,
     give me the crumbs in your rusty teeth.
O treacherous wind, blowing a staggering smile
     off blistered faces. A stranger faraway.

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Joshua Effiong is a writer and digital artist from the Örö people of Nigeria. Author of a poetry chapbook Autopsy of Things Left Unnamed(2020). His works has been published or forthcoming in 580 split, Wrongdoing Magazine, Vast Literary Press, Native Skin and elsewhere. He tweets @JoshEffiong

Marina Outwater is a writer, photographer, traveler, ice hockey player, and, most importantly, a mother of twin boys.