Poems of Trauma Mykyta Ryzhykh

 

Image | Steve Johnson

birds

birds that do not live are more adapted to this world

every time I check the box in the contract, I pretend that I give birth to a bird

every time I cry and shed my skin, I pretend that a beach will soon form on the floor

the surf washes away our traces with you which never existed

sacrifice

nocturnal animals crawl out of my throat

they scream fight and kill each other

the sun dries up like a tangerine peel

I cut tangerines in front of dozens of witnesses

silent water

silent water counts its quantity

bread soaks and swells

I don't eat anything 

because my hunger is bodily

I drink air 

because my thirst is fluid

my stomach is pretending to be a dead bird

after a hydroelectric explosion

© Mykyta Ryzhykh

Mykyta Ryzhykh

Mykyta Ryzhykh, an author from Ukraine, now lives in Tromsø, Norway. He was nominated for a Pushcart Prize in 2023 and 2024. He’s published in many literary magazines іn Ukrainian and English: Tipton Poetry Journal, Stone Poetry Journal, Neologism Poetry Journal, Shot Glass Journal, QLRS, The Crank, Chronogram, The Antonym, Monterey Poetry Review, Five Fleas Itchy Poetry and many others.

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