malik thompson / poem

Insomnia

What I can’t recall are stars

or wild trees sleeping 

beyond this gaping window. Dark air 

swollen with the music of young bucks

scraping velvet from their antlers— 

Alone & swimming in this June-bed,

my neck burns as I lie upon

two flat & iridescent pillows. 

Please, give me a name 

for the morning’s umbral hours,

dawn possesses too much

flare. Please—give me a name

for the morning hours when

the sun is absent & birdsongs begin.

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Malik Thompson (he/they) is a Black queer person from Washington, DC. His work has been published in the Cincinnati Review, Denver Quarterly, Poet Lore and elsewhere. He has received fellowships and residencies from organizations including Cave Canem, Lambda Literary, the Anderson Center, and Sundress Publications. He can be found on IG via the handle @latesummerstar.