Poetry by Katherine DeGilio

                       lauren rushing CC



​Mona Lisa


I hold onto a stairwell and a soft hand. 
The party lights crash, blaze through indigo iridescent liberation. 
Solo cups in newly released hands, we go out on our own ready to make the wrong choices.
We cruise through our new discoveries, the butt of everyone’s joke, swaying, 
our breath a brew of enticement and el Pepino. 
I myself look in the mirror, shaky and embarrassed, a wavy paper doll.

Then I leave the long bathroom line and it’s constitutes to continue their trek, 
and I see her,
a woman, new to the drink.
She looks like Mona Lisa lying in the grass. 
Her hair curly and styled,
she runs her palms against the ground.

Those equally as intoxicated bring her gifts of water and scavenged Frosted Flakes 
to soak up the acid in her stomach.
A girl takes her hand, reassures Mona Lisa, 
and suddenly we are no longer treacherous. 

When all guard is down, we resort to our basic instincts.
I am happy to say, those instincts were to protect. 
We bring her flowers and hold back her hair, strangers forming a village,

Between the haze of nicotine and too much booze, 
we paint kindness into the air,
swiping an almost smile from Mona Lisa.




Casual


Her lips blossom
as her legs unfurl.
The sun patters down on her skin,
and I hold my breath.
She reaches out her petals,
and I turn my head.
I don’t know how to take care of the garden
and not pick the flowers.




Astrology


The stars stand between me and her legs,
hands tapered, fingers steepled with what cannot be.
To touch her is to fuck the moon, 
and all its constituents.
Who am I to take an incompatible desire?

Yet, I stare into her indigo eyes,
feel like paper ripped in pieces,
thrown down to make roadways,
the gods cruise, while brewing the weather,
unaffected by our mortal desires.

Still I reach.

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Currently trudging through a first draft, Katherine DeGilio has three unpublished manuscripts, drawer full of poetry, and an intense Starbucks addiction. You can find her previous work in Third Wednesday, Maudlin House, and Monsters Out of the Closet, among others. She loves connecting with her readers and encourages them to reach out to her through her website or Twitter. 

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