The Nature of Pizza, Perfume, and Time
by Mykki Rios
making and eating it
both a party
delivery gift or sizzling coal fire
there’s a stretchy gooey comfort
familiar, popular, magnanimous
despite being a world traveler by now
and like all things
it goes in pieces until it’s gone
dabbed on wrists
or right on the clavicle
where someone ought to kiss
the scent progresses with the evening
unveiling new notes, aspects
a symphony, a fan dance
and like all things
it goes in pieces until it’s gone
there are moments
that feel like eons
lifetimes that feel helium balloon full
still blips bursting
with the prick of the inevitable
how strange, the measure of lifelong still liminal
and like all things
it goes in pieces until it’s gone
About the Author
Mykki Rios is a queer, genderfluid, Mexican-American poet, performer, and multimedia artist. Raised in Chicago, and having lived in many places across the globe, they recently returned home to the Windy City. Mykki has had work featured in issues of Welter, Meat For Tea: The Valley Review, Random Sample Review, Smoke and Mold Journal, The Normal School, Apparition Literature, BRAWL Lit, Synkroniciti Magazine, HAD, and more. They were also a finalist in Lupercalia Press’s 2022 Chapbook Series Contest. You can find them on X and Instagram – @abbisynths, and Bluesky – @mykkirioswrites.
