To Fall Is to Begin

Irina Vérène

i won’t be dragged

past the pearly gates—

i’ll leave of my own volition.

with these heavenly rules

stifling my breath,

i must say,

it seems a wise decision.

amidst the flames

and the curling smoke,

i shall rise anew—

after all,

a fall from heaven,

a descent to hell,

is a baptism, too.

More from Irina Vérène ↓

1. @queen_of_gore on Instagram
2. They are featured in Haunted Words Press' anthology, Our Dearest Devotions, which contains their flash fiction piece about friendship, fae magic, and gender transition.