The River Styx’s Reverie
I could never cast my shadow to the dark
or light without losing sight of the seams
that allowed me to hold light and the dark
in the first place. When I cast my memories
to the fire, they simply resurface in purple smoke,
leaking into the open space, paralyzing, prophesizing,
developing in pressure and simmering
in seething backdated
decades.
I am unsurprised by what I have to give
to allow its peaceful succession: hot air, blood,
and a burning branch.
Taya Boyles is a Richmond-based writer, a woman of color, and an undergraduate student at Virginia Commonwealth University pursuing a B.S. in English. These poems explore rememory, resilience, and connection. Instagram: @tayatheauthor Tiktok: @tayabtheauthor