Huminsect

by Melissa Eleftherion

That little girl already a slut on roller-skates.
Elytra truncate and not much taller than wide.

Hand job in the schoolyard.
Arista rises at base of 3rd antennal segment.

Asphalt peeled off her like skin.
Occurs at fresh sap flows on trees.

Good attendance reward.
Larvae can jump.

Bra straps showing.
Does not reach tegula.

Meat on the shelf.
Mouthparts chewing

Paperback

First published January 1, 2013

About the author

Melissa Eleftherion (she/they) is a writer, a librarian, and a visual artist. Born & raised in Brooklyn, she holds degrees from Brooklyn College, Mills College, and San Jose State University. They are the author of four poetry collections: field guide to autobiography (The Operating System, 2018), gutter rainbows (Querencia Press, 2024), Suture (Cooper Dillon, 2026), & Malocchia (White Stag, 2026), twelve chapbooks including abject sutures (above/ground press, 2024), & several books currently touring the rejection circuit. Her work has been widely published & featured in venues like Quarter after Eight, Sixth Finch, Entropy, & Barren Magazine. Melissa now lives in Northern California where she manages the Ukiah Branch Library, curates the LOBA Reading Series, and serves as Poet Laureate Emeritus of the City of Ukiah. Recent work is available at www.apoetlibrarian.wordpress.com.