the first alchemical process turns you into a boy.
you pound on your torso and inside rumbles a colorful assortment of sports clip art.
the word dad is a whole lot less confusing now and you know where your angst stops and fraternal duties begin.
there is no subplot where you remind him of younger desires.
the next alchemical results turns you into a buck.
short soft coat and
you’ll probably be dead longer than you’ll be alive
without words you are freed from freedom of speech.
it feels good to be something that people kill for sport, because you don’t have to be too careful with your spit or attitude.
you use alchemy to become a light brown freckle.
where are you between the cell death and darling nose bridge?
do you bespeckle pippy long stockings with pride?
you have brothers but you cannot lean on them
yes you are in the smallest place now.
the last rebirth is a grey bic pen.
you are purely utility and an ignored one.
the waitress sets you down with the check if she doesn’t forget you in her pocket
most people wish you were more sophisticated and at most you remind them subconsciously of ink swipes on their fingers
Béla Ghosh lives in North Philly, pursuing a degree in Religion and Political Science at Temple University while working as a bad waitress in a secret bowling alley. She has been published in Bedfellows and has a forthcoming chapbook by Community Service Press in 2019. Her academic writing focuses on transfeminist theory, as well as blending contemporary paraphilia with eastern mysticism, and has received awards from Villanova and the Greater Philadelphia Philosophy Consortium. She will appear if you chant 'sorry' 148 times. eternalhalloween.weebly.com