CherieBiebie

“SPARKLING ALONG IN
the valley bellow is a car
unaware it is driving
directly into the path of
the lava flow. M'hek
stands transfixed watching
a black cloudform
advance from the horizon
toward the cars its molten
edge snarling its fiery
paws eating steadily at the
world ahead. Moving
about 40 mph. The herd
now breathing like a
bellows has formed into a
circle facing outward. Io
stands apart. She dips her
head to her knee
momentarily. Blood still
buzzing with gorse she
does not hesitate to
believe that a masterpiece
like herself can fly.
Should fly. Does fly.
Without a sound and by
the time M'hek turns
around she is aloft.”
― Anne Carson

“But Amor can see her through the window, so she's not invisible after all. Thinking about a memory, not understood till now, of an afternoon just two weeks ago, in that same room, with Ma and Pa. They forgot I was there, in the corner. They didn't see me, I was like a black woman to them.

(Do you promise me, Manie?

Holding on to him, skeleton hands grabbing, like in a horror film.

Ja, I'll do it.

Because I really want her to have something. After everything she's done.

I understand, he says.

Promise me you'll do it. Say the words.

I promise, Pa says, choked-sounding.)”
― Damon Galgut, The Promise

“People are oceans. You cannot know them by their surface.”
― Beau Taplin, Worlds of You: Poetry & Prose

“[...] And women are always like that.'
'What do you mean?'
'Well, all the women I know who've left long-term relationships in their thirties checked out of it long before they actually did. They went through all the grief when they were still together with the guy. Played through all the scenarios, processed their feelings - so when the split actually happened, they just felt light and free. Men take it worse. They pretend not to, but they do. They haven't laid any preparations.'
'Right. [...].”
― Jessie Burton, The Confession