Drinker of Ink

by Shannon Castleton

her beauty and poise alarm me. She alerts me to the spinning black hole that exists between the woman I am and the woman I wish I could be.

‘How large this bed is / if it has room enough / for such happiness,’

She’s only 18, so she wonders if there is more of life yet to live, but I assured her there is very little of interest outside of me.”