Simone Liggins earned her MFA in Writing at the Jack Kerouac School of Disembodied Poetics of Naropa University. The foundation for her love of writing and literature was paved at an early age and blossomed during her teenage years through the kind of tortured freedom that only the ostracism of high school can grant a person. Her various influences include but are not limited to: Sylvia Plath, Kurt Vonnegut, Dorothy Parker, Audre Lorde, Lenore Kandel, Laurell K. Hamilton, Octavia Butler, The Beatles, Lady Gaga, Fiona Apple, and Jimi Hendrix. Her work has been featured in Raven Chronicles, Buddy—A Lit Zine, BEATS Poetry Periodical, Boulder Weekly, Outsider Poetry, SurVision Magazine, Reject Press, and Petrichor Magazine.

Dearest Gaia,
At this point,
I can only imagine
how many apologies
You receive in a day.

At this point,
I’m not sure
if there’s anything else
I can add.

At this point,
are all points moot?
The time we face left in Your green graces
strikes justified fear in attuned hearts.

At this point,
how much angrier can You get?
Plenty still send praise to You
for maintaining, tolerating, loving us still.

At this point,
I guess all I can add
is please hold on.
We’re trying.

At this point,
I feel like a hypocrite
for asking such a feat from You—
humans rarely prove themselves worthy.

At this point,
I can only guarantee my will in the matter
even though my hope is dying
at the same rate You are.