A THOUSAND PAPER CUTS
dearest
you fear the purple bird of my desire
will fly the nest one day
untamed
untempted
by your love
little do you know that it lies here
beaten
glorious wings crushed
feathers plucked
no cage needed
just indifference
*
Mon Malanovich-Gallagher (they/them) is queer, non-binary immigrant based in London, UK. Their poems appeared in Queer Writing for the Brave New World, Beyond Queer Words, Aurora, Inklette, Beyond Words, Powders Press, Wild Roof Journal, Viewless Wings and numerous other publications in print and online.
