Sugarcoats

let me have  

your disappointment. 

Now, when  

there is no now to burn 

I have smoked the last salmonberry. 
Stared at the green phosphorescent glow 
of the last Saturn sticker, barely clinging 
to the ceiling. All the other stickers have 
already fallen; I never dare pick them up.
They have enough liberty to stay where they landed.
Gravitas is under explained until felt. 
I now happily sleep in the living room. 
To honor the what was, we must preserve 
the what still is. I am drying the last hibiscus harvest
with the trick you taught me. If only natural withering
applied to more things, I would have had more peace.
Instead, I have unlimited warm cups of tea and  
the abandon to dissolve irresponsible amounts 
of subpar sweetness into them.

Bearer of a storytelling family's lasting legacy, Leandro Reyes, the great grandson of Severino  "Lola Basyang" Reyes, brings the craft of tale telling into a new age. A Filipino theater actor,  screenwriter, and podcaster who, when not procrastinating or attending meetings, writes poetry. Reyes is now working on his second book and two full length film scripts.  Follow him on Twitter, FB and IG @LRbasyang

Artwork by Luchina Akhmad

Luchina Akhmad is a Palestinian/Ukrainian freelance illustrator based in Dubai. Follow her on IG: @luchinart