Our poet reads from her second book Sweet Tea and Ketamine. 

It was the best of times,

the worst of nights.

Faded lights in a darkened room.

A too-gauche party,

that is, until she met you.

Took a dreary path

under a snowy sky

she was a fan, so she thought she'd try. 

Forgot to stop and think it through.

Helped form the grip around

his Old-Fashioned love affair.

Clandestine meetings turned

"I do."

Scarlett letters tucked

deep in her favourite jacket

walking along

would-be Honeymoon Avenue.

But the honeymoon's over,

he whispered coming closer.

A peaceful ruler

could be the answer. 

Could catch us in the downfall.

Queen of Hearts had other plans, 

chopped off his head,

put him to rest

deep in the hill

dedicated to infidelity.

Clandestine meeting

turned illicit affairs

but I guess that's what happens 

when you're too young to care.

The snow was magical,

she pleaded to the void-filled air.

Honeymoon Avenue

fixed with cobblestones

of ill-tempted fate.

I guess there was no use running

from a kingdom meant to come undone.

Maybe catching fire could help

relight the spark lost.

Who would've guessed,

he'd supply the match.

xx zf