S. Qiouyi Lu

Particularities

dust billows and gallops on the horizon,
gulps down sunlight, douses this red planet redder—

(fourteen/fifteen/I'm trapped on the 5 north
wildfires rampage ahead, erupt into ash, and the sun
streams orange. I roll down the window. smoke
infiltrates my nostrils, clings to my tongue.)

the storm drenches us in bloodlight.
c'mon, we have to get inside—I run after her, taste
odorless, filtered air, grit between my teeth—
for just one moment, I miss home.

S. Qiouyi Lu left the fires of Southern California for the rain of the Midwest. You can visit their site or follow them on Twitter at @sqiouyilu. This is their first poetry sale.