Ophelia Knight
You Can Not Spell Queer Without Black & Brown
On quiet afternoons there are voices
that mumble in succession
somewhere there is a woman who is pretty
& hated
her dead name misspelled to garner her attention
she has learned to roll it off her tongue like an overly packed blunt stuffed
with ideals
and happenstance
she can not remember a time when she was anything but her
silhouettes of spines and curly hair
are perceived as unmanageable
swiftly become straightened
dyed in the color of survival
there has never been a time when men could switch
fluctuate their hips like rolling hills
& be loved with eyes
alone
they do not see shade
only tinted complexion marred into the flesh
heightened silicone that form breasts
into bodies that have always been
what they are
they are blind
until it is time to recall
the pigment that is made up of
red< yellow<blue
When I am Horny, I am Scared too
I have a nicotine addiction
I blow smoke in the shape of rain clouds and watch as they descend on my lungs
I have discovered an aversion to men
know the familiarity of my pussy drying up like the fucking
Sahara
from time to time I have a drink and excuse myself
sneak outside and pull a pack of cigarettes from my bosom
experience the euphoria of my cells dying with each puff
I should quit
bury the box in the nearest dirt patch
promise my ancestors that I will not look
for death again
instead I feel the pulse beat in my forbidden places
imagine the touch of a man that has yet to disappoint me
lick my lips & salivate over fantasies
run my hands over my own cellulite
breathe in the undilation of my hips when
horniness hits
I have no more sticks left in the pack
with that realization I am afraid
scared of being alone with my thoughts
crush the empty cardboard in my hands
as the wetness dries between my legs
it is fleeting
I know this
& still
I am scared
Ophelia Knight is an aspiring poet with a deep passion for exploring the intersections of nature, human emotion, and societal issues through her evocative and thought-provoking poetry. Her two most recent works were featured in The Engine Idling (2024) and Paddler Press (2024). She hopes to one day overcome the whole starving, tortured artist thing (it’s a work in progress). As Ophelia continues to write and share her work, drawing inspiration from both the natural world and the cultural landscapes around her, she aims to inspire and connect with readers through her lyrical and introspective poetry. Ophelia was born and raised in the U.S.
Twitter/X: Ophelia_Dreams
Ophelia_Dreams Blog: https://sincerelyaninsomniac.wordpress.com/
Linktree: linktr.ee/OpheliaDKnight