Starcrossed Lovers

Caitlin Irish

Caitlin Irish is a nursing student at South Dakota State University. In her limited free time, she can be found writing, volunteering for NAMI, and playing with her pet hedgehog. She is passionate about mental health, and often uses her writing to open a dialogue around stigma and mental health care. She is currently working on her first novel, and will be graduating with her BSN in 2022.

My heart and stomach have been lovers

longer than I can remember.

And each night when the sunshine fades

into gloaming, giving way to starlight above,

heart climbs down the trellis 

of my rue blossom rib cage 

to convene with the one 

she beats for.

They cradle each other in trembling 

hands, ignoring the quakes

of my diaphragm. My stomach sends fairy dust

up to his love, and her atria flutter

in thanks.

Holding fast, they sink together

as this body crumbles around them,

knowing all too well

they will run out of time

when the crescent moon falls

in the daylight.

Not a single word spoken, they sit and wait

in the gentlest form of agony. 

Until the dawn rises, they do not concede. 

Never wavering.

Never letting go.