A.J. Odasso

Queen of Cups

The cards say I’ll be leaving, tell me I’ll travel south,
likely settle. Four long months of a single message
mustn’t prove false, or my compass is shot. How cruel
has time proved that I must run; what love have I become
while sitting so still? Queen of Cups, they whisper, Page
of Vessels Yet Unfilled. I’ll hail my favorite constellation
with these dazzling, inventive suits I’ve played for keeps
if this chance would but have me. Question your heart,
little sister, and the cards will find you; do speak truly
if the Page should pass her cup down your quiet row.

A.J. Odasso’s poetry has appeared in a wide variety of strange and wonderful publications. Her two poetry chapbooks, Devil’s Road Down and Wanderlust, are available from Maverick Duck Press. Her first full collection of poems, Lost Books, was released by Flipped Eye Publishing. She is currently Co‐Editor in the Poetry Department at Strange Horizons, and her second collection from Flipped Eye, The Dishonesty of Dreams, is forthcoming in late 2014.