you keep trying to stain him
in pomegranate juice,
rat poison,
and blood,
but you don’t realize it all comes out in the wash
and fades away when exposed to the sun.
see,
you have to treat the fabric,
soak it in animal fat and hot water
for two days straight,
pressing out air bubbles,
stirring the pot with a wooden spoon,
fastening your gas mask to your skull
and sealing the mouthpiece
so you can watch the dust evaporating
and dance in the chemical cloud.
come now,
simmer more water.
suck in the steam.
strain your onion skin
and pink avocado pit
through the cheesecloth.
Sarah Ruth Penna enjoys writing as a creative process that feels intuitive and free. Her debut poetry collection, Secret Alphabets, was released in June 2026 with Metaphysical Fox Press. She is a monthly contributor to the website Hey Young Writer, the Outdoor Experience Manager at Girl Scouts of Central and Western Massachusetts, and owns a small business, Hyacinth House Arts & Wellness. In her free time she enjoys photography, making collages, singing, and spending time outside. Her poetry is deeply influenced by the New England Transcendentalists, Mary Oliver, levi the poet, mythology, nature, chronic illness, & her Italian-American heritage. Her daily life is a synergy of Nature, Art, and Community. She lives in gratitude, overlooking Cedar Lake in Sturbridge, MA.
Featured image by Marta Matyszczyk on Unsplash.
