Cristina Paone

Your Shell

Strewn across the sheets
injections of liquid warriors
crawl through bountiful flesh
scorching this forest—bald.
Once flourished skin now
a spray painted crumble of brick
from the burst of mortar shells.

Pulsating just beneath the wreckage
a miracle wrapped in chemicals
drums the hummingbird’s flight
though instruments can’t register wings—
hands in flight

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Transfiguration

A gurgling mess of
lively curls with a grin
smeared with mashed peas
howls in the night--
clutches the rattling gavel.

the static mess of
matted curls
will not wake for sun
or pleas to God.
It lies with hands open--
the gavel without a rattle.

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Cristina Paone

is a senior English Major at Colby-Sawyer College.