table talk

by jp thorn

i kiss my queerness before

taking a seat, captain’s chair.

we’re talking news, cnn vomited

up an article about a body^[1]–

woman buried four centuries past,

Image credit: Brian Lawson on Unsplash

cadaver garnished by a sickle, jam

spread across her neck a choker, maybe

she was akasha, queen of the damned.

desensitized to horror i lean into details:

poland, little ice age, of high-status

body unearthed after silken

traditional silver & gold burial

spine rebroken then sown back

into dirt with a scythe necklace

second death, desecration of girl

distorted, beyond comprehension.

we should attribute more

blame to the supernatural

masticate this muse, sip sanguine wine

remember when we thought

this was blood?

[1] Researchers are learning more about ‘Zosia,’ the 17th-century ‘vampire’ buried with a blade over her neck

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jp thorn

jp thorn is a queer, neurodivergent artist raised in & returned to the bible belt. advocate for destigmatization & radically open communication, their work is inspired by humanness, reframing traditionalism, therapeutic processes, unlearning patriarchy, identity, & global patterns. you can find more of their work here