if this is all that’s real
after “High by the Beach” by Lana Del Rey
You are made of mouth and tongue and match-smoke. I
am made of touch and taste and red phosphate. We can’t
keep this chemical reaction. We won’t survive.
You say darling, honey, sweetheart, this is the only way. If
you want me, you have to burn. This
is the way of witches. This is the way of stakes. This is
the molten glass in your mouth. You know it all
too well. I say lover, devil, demon, I know that’s
not true, but sometimes deflagration is magic made real.
after “High by the Beach” by Lana Del Rey
You are made of mouth and tongue and match-smoke. I
am made of touch and taste and red phosphate. We can’t
keep this chemical reaction. We won’t survive.
You say darling, honey, sweetheart, this is the only way. If
you want me, you have to burn. This
is the way of witches. This is the way of stakes. This is
the molten glass in your mouth. You know it all
too well. I say lover, devil, demon, I know that’s
not true, but sometimes deflagration is magic made real.
Meagan Patrick lives and writes in Memphis, TN, where she works with her service-dog-in-training and closest confidante, Jyn. Her creative non-fiction is forthcoming in littledeathlit.