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.

Issue 06 is available RIGHT NOW.

Do you want all the Funicular? Subscribe once. Forever.