Paxton Knox
Ecdysis
set the stage with flames illuminating my curls
and the shine in your eyes, with red wine
and baklava with 34 layers for 34 years
the stars and moon hide in your shadow,
where you keep them until i agree to stay
pull the coat from my shoulders, catch a whiff of
new aftershave scented by patchouli and indecision
i look into the fire and allow you to press a cicada
into my mouth to help me in finding my own imago
your tender call of “run away with me”
is an order to a firing squad
by the time the fire peters out
my body will have transformed
into something new (something final)
and the shine in your eyes, with red wine
and baklava with 34 layers for 34 years
the stars and moon hide in your shadow,
where you keep them until i agree to stay
pull the coat from my shoulders, catch a whiff of
new aftershave scented by patchouli and indecision
i look into the fire and allow you to press a cicada
into my mouth to help me in finding my own imago
your tender call of “run away with me”
is an order to a firing squad
by the time the fire peters out
my body will have transformed
into something new (something final)
Biography
Paxton Knox (they/he) is a queer poet and writer with work appearing in detritus, Molecule: A Tiny Lit Mag, and Animal: A Beast of a Literary Magazine. They can be found driving the backroads of Oklahoma, scouring the scenery for inspiration, and also on Twitter @paxtonknox.
