Rat King

Euri Glenn

Red on my back

I watch the window in wonder

The woman’s hand touched me

Now she’s left to wonder the

red of my back she doesn’t see

poison is the only thing I do not lack, you see

 

I watch the window in wonder

There grows a great grey gum

The man cocks his gun and groans

underneath, the grey gum

A pendulum

 

The man and the woman, they left

Now the newlywed remains

A woman of only eighteen, she

screams

and slashes my silk, then

she leaves

 

Red on my back

A gum pendulum

The window – I wonder

is it the will of the Creator?

That we have

One thing

In common

 

The red on my back

The gum pendulum

The window off the latch

It is the will of the Creator

We’re the widow-makers.

Author: Euri Glenn is a Jambreen/Tamborine Mountain based writer, and a third-year Creative Writing student at QUT who is currently working on a novel based in a post-apocalyptic Gold Coast Hinterland. In every story, she seeks to inspire change for the better of the world and the creatures who dwell within in. You can find more of her work in ScratchThat’s 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th Issues, QUT Glass’ 14th Issue, and @euri.chelsea.glenn on Instagram.

Artist: Irene Liao is a visual art student from Taiwan who aims to present figurative human art through her watercolour pieces.

Editor: Euri Glenn