August 5~ RYAN DI FRANCESCO

SHINE poetry fans, today we welcome Canadian writer Ryan Di Francesco with two poems, "The Heart of the Onion," and "Putting Her Face On." Ryan's poems address the very relatable mental health issues and work demands of our modern era. Thank you, Ryan, for sharing your words!

The Heart of the Onion

I am as still and as solemn
as a statue
in the suburban 8 o’clock morning light
partly because I can’t sleep.

Partly because of my depression.

Partly because of myself.

I am finishing my third cup of coffee,
thinking about having a Coke with that New York poet O’Hara,
wondering why in the world anyone wakes up.

She comes barreling down the stairs.

“I’m tired,” I say.

“Me too,” she answers.
“I give up,” she says.

“I don’t care anymore.”

Then pauses.

“Call your mom
and tell her not to come over Saturday.”

I wish I could.

I wish there was nothing but time
to do nothing in.

She climbs the stairs
to get back to her computer
for a Zoom with the CEO
of the company she works for.

I stare out the window
at the old maple tree across the street
and watch a few lingering
yellow leaves on the branches,
drifting like people outside a plaza.

I close my eyes.

My hands feel like they were stabbed by a fork.

I imagine cutting them off,
feeding them to the dog,
watching it eat it all the way down
to the heart of the onion,
until it turns back to look at me

and pauses.

It’s all very quiet now.

I want to go back to sleep.

But I have to get to work too.

I finish my coffee before the day begins
and see my mom has texted
to confirm we’re still on for Saturday.

I replied:

Yes! 

Putting Her Face On

she fell
into an

empty vase

with murky
rose water

and

drowned
in sorrow

again

wandering in
the autumn

streets behind

her eyes
spilling onto

hardwood

standing
in a puddle

of nightmares
mourning herself

before

putting her
face on

for work

as if it were
her choice

Ryan Di Francesco is a Canadian writer and teacher with a BA in English Literature. He is the lead editor of Shadow and Sax, an emerging Canadian literary magazine, where his poetry and short fiction have appeared. His work is forthcoming in SQUID Magazine and The Orange Rose, and his non-fiction has been published in The Toronto Star and The Hardball Times and others. He is also the co-writer of the indie film "Streets of Wonderland."

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