Sunflowers far past their prime

Dark heads bowed
in fields of mourning
No yellow but
for the turning leaves
Frail, withered things
Weathered husks
The horror of it:
Fields of corpses

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Matthew Ellis (he/him) is a queer poet living in Columbus, Ohio. His first collection, Little Heresies, is due out in August 2026 from Wayfarer Books. With a background in chemistry, he spends his time teaching yoga and following creative pursuits in music and writing. To keep up with his work, you can follow him on Instagram (@matthewellismusic3) or visit his website (www.MatthewEllisContemplation.com).