By Eric Brown
It’s the slight retraction of the fangs,
just inked with crimson stains,
that signals that first impression
of disappointment. It’s not that the neck
wasn’t bare or taut enough,
the lace choker too limply woven,
the bodice too homespun for ripping.
(Though what sad labor went into so much
restitching.) But disappointment
all the same. Perhaps if you’d supped
on chocolate, or hydrated more,
or swallowed freely that second bite
of bagel, or if you’d stretched your
intermittent fasting a little less severely,
then those puncture wounds with black
and scabrous crust might have been yours.
The draining of all that sweet corpuscular
flamboyance. Instead, another bat-faced boy
in the night feeling sorry for you,
turning to mist, gone before sunrise.
Bigfoot Saw Us But No One Believed Him by Daniel Wood Adams
About the Author
Eric Brown is Professor Emeritus of English at the University of Maine Farmington and Executive Director of the Maine Irish Heritage Center. His books include Milton on Film, Insect Poetics, and Shakespeare in Performance, and his work has previously appeared or is forthcoming in Enchanted Living, Rust & Moth, The Ekphrastic Review, Mississippi Review (first prize, Hamlet issue), Carmina Magazine, The Galway Review, Sublunary Review, Constellations, Eternal Haunted Summer, Star*Line, The Frogmore Papers (shortlisted for the 2023 Frogmore Poetry Prize), and elsewhere.
About the Artist
Based in Austin, Texas, Daniel Wood Adams is a multifaceted creative with a passion for blending visual aesthetics and craftsmanship. As a graphic designer, illustrator, and woodworker, Daniel’s work reflects a unique intersection of artistry and skill. Daniel’s creative journey began with degrees in illustration and graphic design from Pratt Institute in 2012. Those formative years were a thrilling rollercoaster of art, Pabst Blue Ribbon, and caffeine-fueled all-nighters, setting the stage for what would become a dynamic career. In addition to his professional work, Daniel enjoys contributing to the local creative community and collaborating with fellow artists. His diverse skill set allows him to approach projects from unique angles, continually presenting new opportunities to grow and refine his craft. Daniel is excited to see where this journey will lead him next.