I have the old soul
of Sophie
and the young heart
of Shizuku.
Most days,
I want to sit in
my favorite rocking chair
bask in golden sunlight
and eat a warm meal
blessed by Calcifer’s flames.
Breakfast is my favorite
because Calcifer
munches eggshells
like peanuts
but gently kisses the sausage.
Some days,
I crave adventure
seeking stories that
paint my imagination
in watercolor rainbows.
The pages of books
magnify my eyes
but sometimes
reading isn’t enough.
My pen is a siren
calling to me
begging me
to drown myself
in an ocean of words.
Instead I use
a blank page
as a boat,
my mind
as a sail,
and my pen
as a rudder.
Music is the wind
that propels me onwards.
In a new land,
I meet “The Baron”,
a dapper cat
with a top hat.
He bows
guides me through
winding streets
paved with
twinkling diamonds.
Then his eyes
shine with moonlight
as we head underground.
Suddenly
a rock erupts
from my chest
magma hot
purple amethyst.
The Baron says,
“This is your heart.
Hear its whisper
and tell your story.”
I return home
and write these words
as Calcifer crackles
and smiles.
Latonya Pennington is a poet from Troy, AL. Their poetry has been previously published at the publications Into The Spine, The Aze Journal, and Fiyah Lit magazine, among others. When they aren’t writing, they are probably playing video games, reading, or streaming shows & movies.