Apolonio - by Jan Richard Baraceros

My father is the name I carry;

a bastard son of a bastard son.

My father is very much like God—

for that I haven't seen either one.

Perhaps they never even existed.

A concealed noise, a naked malice;

perhaps then I must ground them into being—

so that all this anger would have a man to blame.

Rikki, even with so much love,

all your child could ever do was watch.

And for this funny kid who asks a lot,

I haven't asked for you in a very long time.

You're all terrible people—

and yet you're all still family.

My father is the name I carry;

the name rots in my mouth

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Cover page by Khushi K.