I. The Magician (Reversed)

the magician is a friend of the bees
by Rachel Small

the body leaves a twist
of bed sheets wrapped
above his skull like a
memory of orange tea

and snapped cinnamon
sticks. once the body
ached beneath weight
of tomorrow. prayed for

sleep. found eternity within
a sea made of honey. sweetness
has burnt his tongue away, leaving
faded relics to linger. love the

bees, he tries to say.

Rachel Small (she/her) writes in Ottawa. Her work has appeared or is forthcoming in magazines, including ottawater, many gendered mothers, The Hellebore, The Shore, and other places. She was the recipient of honourable mention for the John Newlove Poetry Award for her poem “garbage moon and feminist day”.