"Paper Sets" by Hailey Stumpo
Griffin Rockwell | Passing Through
I like being right
I say to a friend, which is true
but maybe I shouldn’t flaunt it
the sun, that liar, has come out
bright which I guess I appreciate
somebody has to and it won’t be me
there are a surprising number
of rainbow flags on Ronalds Street
along with crabapples on this tree
and tiger lilies in the front beds
my sheets need a wash but when
don’t they, know this is a surprise to me
the jackhammers never stop
these days, everything is under construction
the door opens on a civil war
years keep passing and what do I do
about it but live my life
my hands glow in the dark unprompted
I am unnecessarily annoyed by email
no matter how much I want, I can’t
shake it even when I try to
I mean this thing that shadows me
like gravity or a subtle cat
the number of the day is eight
serendipitous unless you hate blue or
hard work, always required
the rice is boiling over again
air conditioner working overtime
we are all electrons passing
through someone else’s orbit
I say to a friend, which is true
but maybe I shouldn’t flaunt it
the sun, that liar, has come out
bright which I guess I appreciate
somebody has to and it won’t be me
there are a surprising number
of rainbow flags on Ronalds Street
along with crabapples on this tree
and tiger lilies in the front beds
my sheets need a wash but when
don’t they, know this is a surprise to me
the jackhammers never stop
these days, everything is under construction
the door opens on a civil war
years keep passing and what do I do
about it but live my life
my hands glow in the dark unprompted
I am unnecessarily annoyed by email
no matter how much I want, I can’t
shake it even when I try to
I mean this thing that shadows me
like gravity or a subtle cat
the number of the day is eight
serendipitous unless you hate blue or
hard work, always required
the rice is boiling over again
air conditioner working overtime
we are all electrons passing
through someone else’s orbit
Griffin Rockwell is a queer poet whose work has appeared in AGNI, Poet Lore, HAD, Whale Road Review, and elsewhere; xe has three chapbooks. Griffin enjoys writing about gender, science, space, and unusual connections. Find their website and socials at https://linktr.ee/griffinrockwell.
Hailey Stumpo is a Dover-based fine artist currently pursuing a degree in studio art at Kutztown University of Pennsylvania. Her works have been acquired by private collectors in Florida, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware, including renowned oil painter Dr. Sandra Corpora, by whom Stumpo has been mentored for three years. You can find Hailey on Instagram @indieannaartwork and on her website.
