Writing sample by Sierra Nelson

[Published in Forklift, Ohio Journal]

THE CONTAINER MUST FEATURE A SPOUT OR BE DESIGNED
SO THAT CONTENTS CAN BE POURED WITHOUT SPILLING

What a mess the moon made, leaking the sun’s light everywhere.
We were sopping it up for days, mops and shirtsleeves,
shoes soaking, dripping leaves.

Legs dangled over the ledge, we flicked our
ashes, tossed match after match into
flammable night.
 
It was then I meant to tell you something – simply –
using my best feature. The goddamn tranquil
pull of your eyes – I was pouring

and you got a face full. You didn’t flinch or blink.
Like dealing with fumes: if you close your eyes
you just hold the pain in tight against the eyeballs.

Look through it.

Some flowers only open when they’re drowning.
Thank god the moon’s almost empty now
so we can shut up.

Brian Belott, USA
Ed Smith, USA
Cole Swensen, USA 
Gregory Botts, USA
George Pearlman, USA
Kathy Black, USA
Christy Symington, UK
Tontxi Vazquez, Puerto Rico/UK 

Amanda Gayle Oliver, USA
Liliana Valenzuela, USA
Sierra Nelson, USA
Tova Gardner, Israel/USA
Christopher Lee, Canada

Amna Ilyas, Pakistan
Anne Percoco, USA
Ariel Elizabeth Churnin, USA 
Ciara Foster, Ireland
Charlie Grosso, USA
Christopher Manzione, USA
Chutima Kerdpitak, Thailand/UK
Elaine Woo MacGregor, UK
Erin Lee Benson, USA
Jacqueline Norheim, USA
Jessica Pezalla, USA
Jon Rajkovich, USA
Josianne Ishikawa, USA/Japan
Joshua Haycraft, USA
Leonardo Aguinaldo, Philippines
Lillian Pease, USA
Lisa Iglesias, USA
Liz Jeneid, Australia
Marilynn Derwenskus, USA
Mark Dilks, USA
Natasha Mell-Taylor, USA
Renata Szur, Hungary
Rinaldo Klas, Suriname
Terry Wise, USA
Wendy Morrison Painter, USA