by moira j.
We have been on the move, hunting down
rainclouds. We have walked for
too long and too slowly, only
seeing patches of pressed dirt where our
feet have already been. But today, we
found a stillborn cloud snagged in a bush,
a damp balloon—unfertilized.
My mother gave me her knife,
she has taught me that hope is vicious.
I place our buckets under its neck,
and slice mist-flesh from muscle, observing
the marbling from thundercloud and nor’easters. As it bleeds,
we cup its falling rain, lips lapping up our endless thirst.
When we return home,
we water the garden, and pray for another baby to fall from the
sky, so that we may grow tomatoes.
Moira J., or Gaagé Dat’éhe (Quiet Crow), is an Indigenous writer who explores being agender, queer, and biracial. They examine these relationships through poetry, origin stories, and creative nonfiction. Moira J.’s work has been published in Girls Get Busy Zine, Naugatuck River Review, Rising Phoenix Review, ENCLAVE, Bayou Magazine, and more. They have upcoming publications with Sea Foam Magazine, The Account, 1001: A Literary Journal, and The 3288 Review. You can keep updated on Moira J. by going to https://moiraj.wixsite.com/home, or find them on Twitter @moira__j.
Art by featured artist Sirena Hildebrand.
Monsters and Lace was created by Sirena the Mermaid and Chris the Troll. They live in Lancaster, PA, with their many plant children, such as Mary the Mint and Bert the Dracaena. On any given day, you might find them romping through the forest, toting reflectors, camera gear, smoke grenades, and who knows what other props. The aim, is to tell a story via pictures, whether it be a hard road a friend has travelled, or a light hearted children’s tale. To view the world through a lens is a beautiful thing! To capture someone’s soul within a photo is a hard task, but one they aim to master.