SAINT MARIA

mile high,
searching for the sweetness
comes to me as a cannoli

thick,
whipped,
lush

tuck the chocolate past my lips
i am a rosary
i am italian secrets

my blood could be your blood
a thursday goddess, an unprofessional prayer
hold me in the sling of your arm
bury my secrets, bury my spit behind the house

saint maria will bless you with
passion by the orange groves
deceit under the lemon trees

light a red,

spin sugar

on the right

side of justice,
i am dessert, savor me.

Stephanie Athena Valente lives in Brooklyn, NY. Her published works include Hotel Ghost, waiting for the end of the world, and Little Fang (Bottlecap Press, 2015-2019). She has work included in Witch Craft Magazine, Maudlin House, and Cosmonauts Avenue. She is the associate editor at Yes, Poetry. Sometimes, she feels human. stephanievalente.com