‘Fawn’

K. Kokas was born and raised in Pennsylvania and is a photographer, locomotive conductor, and museum docent.

Fawn

Do not be so nice to the dying fawn,

And have me believing that I was ever more than the loveless thing,

that got chewed up and spit out

And never saw the world the same again

Do not be so nice to the dying fawn, because I’ll be begging to go back to yours

And I’ll get down on my knees and stay there all night, until I’m crying and ugly again

Dead weight is all you’ll have by the time it’s over

and by then, I’m fresh for the taking

Do not be so nice to the dying fawn,

Before I’m bundled under the sheets, homely and vulnerable

Messing around like a kid right where you want me

I’ll beg you to love me and hold me while I cry about how I wish you’d stayed

I’ll beg you to stay and love me like you should’ve, Mom

A. X. is an emerging mixed-race poet from Texas. Having simple roots from the homegrown suburbia of The Colony, they have been writing poetry since the age of 12. They enjoy playing guitar and lounging at home with their cat.