Q: what does the moon taste like?
Mrinal Pattanaik
i swallow the moon and it tastes like iron not honey: not
nearly as beautiful as i’d hoped, but i was curious and now
i’m satiated so it was worth it, maybe. long ago someone
sat on the rays of the sun and said: is it better to know the
worst parts of the universe or live in some sort of beige
coated innocence. is it worth knowing color, full-saturation,
if you see blood for what it is. is it worth swallowing the
moon if now you know it tastes like iron. i don’t know. i’m
here on earth. i took a chunk of the moon and put it in my
mouth and it rusted on the way down my throat and now it
doesn’t shine as brightly as it used to, imperfect and
cratered, a piece sitting firmly in my belly rolling around
like rotten meat. long ago i sat on the rays of the sun and
said: is it better to know the worst parts of the universe or
let things remain beautiful. i don’t know.
Mrinal Pattanaik is a senior at Neuqua Valley High School. Her work has been recognized by the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards, the Live Poets Society of New Jersey, and Sandpiper Magazine, amongst others.
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