Observing a mole form on my left pointer finger
by Jordan Alejandro Rivera
Day 1:
Did I stab myself with a pencil?
Are you graphite granules embedded
In the shallows of my palm
When I arrogantly pushed my hand
Into the left pocket of my shorts
To meet with the sharpened tip
That lay in waiting like a rattlesnake
Fanged for a beautiful bite-mark
​
Day 5:
The venom is spreading
Corroded flesh irradiates
From speck, into splotch
​
Day 10:
O’ calamitous spot,
Don’t drain my life away
Halt your expansive rage
Malignant ripple on my surface
Building into a crasher wake
Please don’t slam against me
And end my fickle being
​
Day 50:
The supernova was the end
Until the explosion cooled
Into another star borne black
Dappling my skin-sky
Jordan Alejandro Rivera (he/him) is a 23-year-old queer Xicano writer living in Boston. Jordan is passionate about mutual aid and volunteers with the Prison Book Program. He currently works as a medical researcher. His work is featured in fifth wheel press, Acedia Journal, and partially shy. Find him @jordinowrites.