Fermented

You love ferment
-ed cucumber kimc
-hi I’m one day old
bitter, pungent
assign me to the 
refrigerator 
let me seethe
I will reach
my proper, perfect
capacity soon
probiotic and
all good for 
your sick gut
to enjoy

Ashley Pearson (she/her) is a sophomore majoring in Creative Writing and Biochemistry at Knox College. She is 19 years old. She divides her time between Monmouth and Galesburg in Illinois. Her work can be found in Catch Magazine, Ice Lolly Review, The Global Youth Review, The Hearth Magazine, BlueThings Zine, Paper Crane Journal, Oye Drum, Down in the Dirt, SouthChild Lit, and Melbourne Culture Corner. Follow her on Instagram @ashleynicolewrites and Twitter @ashley___writes.

Artwork by Garreth Chan