The orchid is purple. My life is gray, it bleeds out
in monotone – a duly noted contrast. Clouded
mornings fill my cup. I burn my lips on pride. I carry
today in a paper bag – a rusty lunch pail reserved for
dreams. Nothing else matters. Life is black – devoid
of color. The knife is no friend, but a savior, excising
cancerous sin. Words no longer mesh, as the orchid
bows its head – dropping petals on the floor. Withered
blossoms & discarded flesh paint a portrait of decline.
I long for the vibrant color of life. I reach out to purple,
clasping it close to my heart. Wanting only to live.
About the Author
Ann Christine Tabaka was nominated for the 2017 & 2023 Pushcart Prize in Poetry; nominated for the 2023 Dwarf Stars award of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Poetry Association; winner of Spillwords Press 2020 Publication of the Year; selected as a Judge for the Soundwaves Poetry Contest of Northern Ireland 2023. Her bio is featured in the “Who’s Who of Emerging Writers 2020” and “2021,” published by Sweetycat Press. She is the author of 16 poetry books, and 1 short story book. She lives in Delaware, USA. She loves gardening and cooking. Chris lives with her husband and four cats. Her most recent credits are: Sand Hills Literary Magazine, The Phoenix, Eclipse Lit, Streetcake Experimental Writing Magazine, Carolina Muse, Ephemeral Literary Review, The Elevation Review, North Dakota Quarterly, Tangled Locks Journal, Wild Roof Journal, The American Writers Review, Black Moon Magazine, Pacific Review, Pomona Valley Review, West Texas Literary Review.*(a complete list of publications is available upon request)
Website: https://annchristinetabaka.com
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/
