hunger has lived on long enough 
and the autumn rain gives it strength 
to live through hibernal 
to settle amongst powdery debris 
and slow its breath 
while you slow yours 
when the time comes  

the guard around your heart weakens 
while embers burn in smokestacks 
this time of symbolic suffering 
is enough to torch  
least hunger keeps its temporary distance 
by good fortune of coincidence 
or her nature’s doing  

over hours of desolate pondering 
in frozen root-rot 
and composts of unattainable dreams  
the ice melts  
while breath quickens  
and for a shudder, 
fulfillment strikes  

until hunger thaws 
and recollects its duty  
praising rain of autumn  
and of spring 
for they have given it the power of breadth 
to banish any morsel of satisfaction  
that filled those in their sorrowed slumber  

Colby Flade (he/him) is a queer writer, artist, avid drinker of coffee, and student based in Chicago. He is the author ofThe Smell of the Light Blue House in Summertime (2021), Menthol (2022), andShort Sweet Simple: Love Poems (Bottlecap Press, 2022). His poetry & visual art pieces have appeared/are forthcoming inThe Oyez Review, Beyond Words Literary Magazine, Beyond Queer Words, Wild Roof Journal, Drunk Monkeys, and elsewhere. ​Find Colby on Instagram: @theflade