• By Tyler Villarreal (he/him)
  • Art “Turbulence” by Claudia Lee (she/her)
Vicious smoke,
shredded legs
Pincushion of glass
Forwards I push, crawl
Unto this desiccated land.
I am weak, ill
Teetering on the brink of 
death;
Still I am called,
beyond
By lark songs with
no name.
Enticed, by
nameless words
With the strength that still remains--

Tendons, they lift
my aimless form
Bones, they hold
together my soul.
Mind's clutter,
sadness stripped
Melted away like
rainwater.
My eyes, set before a canvas;
Transdimensional green,
Bleeding into paradise;
Glistening cerulean streams
No time to fear or cower
Before this bliss world unseen

I heard, through birds, their souls
Lost voices amass
Of the fallen,
by verdant wyvern devoured.
You will not have me;

My will is mighty
Watch as I soar:
With Aquila wings
Hear my soul roar.