Phoenix

by Jorina Teneqexhiu

Under the covers of the night sky 

and the inviting moonlight 

I surrender a piece of what remains of me 

of what is untouched. 

In this sacred darkness erupts a fervent smoky fire 

which grows into a smothering flare and I  

readily submit to your raging storm 

but it’s not enough to keep you warm. 

And waking up to this sun 

burns. It scorches like the illuminating truth 

that I have wasted time on something 

as temporary and undeserving  

as you. 

I cried because it was brutal 

because it was beautiful. 

I only knew that when I said goodbye, 

I was free.  

I was shattered. 

All that remain are wild embers  

that I wield to reignite flames not of desire 

but flames of my liberating truth 

which will ravage like wildfire. 

Under the moon 

we shared our  

first and last 

kiss 

but I no longer reminisce. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jorina Teneqexhiu is a first-generation college student who hopes to impact her audience through her art and writing. Jorina attributes her love for writing to her favorite teacher, Ms. Swerdloff, who sparked her passion for poetry. She is also a biology major with goals of attending medical school to become a pediatric doctor. 

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Steven McCrystal lives in a town called Bo’ness in Scotland. He started painting in Art Therapy and found the creative outlet very beneficial. It helped him come to terms with the traumas he’d been through and enabled him to look at his troubles in a different light.  

McCrystal enjoys painting abstract art, but his repertoire also consists of emotive work and elements of his bipolar experiences. He has found that there is nothing better than feeling an emotional connection to the art he produces and hopes viewers of his art find that same connection.