Words by Skylar Miklus | Pictures by Larissa Monique Hauck

october again.

dying things breathe and

beetles breed on my windowsill.

i forage mushrooms. i hate

the taste but i love their gills:

white fans that scream

STAY OUT.

they’re mouthless but they open wide.

i don’t think of my body when i think of dead leaves. i don’t regret desire when i see decay.

Skylar Miklus (author, right) is a poet and bookseller living in White River Junction, Vermont. They obtained their B.A. in Philosophy from Dartmouth College and are pursuing their Writing MFA at the University of New Hampshire. Their poems have appeared in Defunct Magazine and You Might Need to Hear This Magazine. You can connect with them on Instagram at @skymiklus.

Larissa Monique Hauck is a queer visual artist who graduated from the Alberta University of the Arts in 2014, where she received a BFA with Distinction. She has been selected for inclusion in events such as Nextfest 2018 (Edmonton, AB), Nuit Rose 2016 (Toronto, ON), and the 9th Annual New York City Poetry Festival 2019 (New York, US). Her drawings and paintings have also been featured in publications such as Creative Quarterly (US), Wotisart Magazine (UK), Minerva Rising (US), and more. @larissamoniqueart

Images: Breathe, Fantasies