Madeline Hynes
Gone
i plucked out my eyelashes last night
arched and amber
they did not bid my irises farewell
they fell silently
waited patiently to be brushed onto the floor.
i threw my clothes in the fireplace last night
no protests escaped their seams
the cotton and dye burned scarlet and calm
the smoke exhaled through the chimney
sighed insignificantly
and i sat back into the couch
watching in a paper dress.
i pulled out my teeth last night
i left the canines and a sharp one on the bottom
they regarded each other as acquaintances
as they softly clinked into the porcelain sink
i washed them down in two seconds
and then i laid out a blanket on the floor and went to sleep.
arched and amber
they did not bid my irises farewell
they fell silently
waited patiently to be brushed onto the floor.
i threw my clothes in the fireplace last night
no protests escaped their seams
the cotton and dye burned scarlet and calm
the smoke exhaled through the chimney
sighed insignificantly
and i sat back into the couch
watching in a paper dress.
i pulled out my teeth last night
i left the canines and a sharp one on the bottom
they regarded each other as acquaintances
as they softly clinked into the porcelain sink
i washed them down in two seconds
and then i laid out a blanket on the floor and went to sleep.
Madeline Hynes is a born-and-raised Iowan who recently left her job in software to pursue writing full-time. She has been published in the University of Notre Dame's literary journal, The Juggler. Madeline currently lives in Charleston with her husband, Alec, and their Westie, Betty. You can follow her on Instagram @madeline_hynespoet.