Pain is a blessing. The way sadness and hunger go hand in hand. Avoid clichés and exaggerate the positive qualities about yourself. Put everything else away in a cedar chest beneath your bed. Suffering is beautiful; be grateful you can feel it. The polish on your toes gone ghoulish in this light. More monster than Mary Jane. When your mother cries, pretend you didn’t hear.
The moon will float like an eye in your window. There are certain equations a girl must always remember. One plus one always equals zero. If you own anything red, pack it away, quickly. Wordlessly.
Know what scents suit you, and in turn which ones are unsuitable. Soft vanilla, amber, the bitter rinds of oranges beneath your fingers. Your outfits should reflect the cold that is coming soon. The chilling smoke that curls from dank alleys. You never want to go to such a place, no matter how curious you are. No matter what tangled voices you might hear whispering in the wind. Rebecca, Emily. Tina. Every girl that disappeared into the sweet, sticky mouth of the dark.
Toni Scales worked as a funeral director’s assistant. Her poems have appeared in Lily, Wicked Alice, Stirring, blossombones, and The Pedestal Magazine. Her first poetry chapbook, Blue Rebecca, is scheduled to be published by dancing girl press. Toni lives in Clute, Texas, and is excited about becoming a grandmother for the first time. She loves making creepy doll AI images and anything to do with Henry Cavill. You can contact her at toniscalespoet@gmail.com.
Published 10/31/24