Ryan Swofford- A Poem

"Frozen in Amber"

 

I sucked in cold
but felt I had to
vomit

cold wet
mustard gas
and
rose-breath

 

with a viral headache
I slept
under olive vines

with dirt
in my eyes

 

with an ominous infection
I tried to breathe

frozen
in
amber

 

lightheaded
and delirious

I fell to my knees
because I was
paralyzed

frozen
in
amber

Bio: Ryan Swofford has been published in a few good mags, including, most recently, The Montucky Review and Legendary. He currently edits a magazine of his own, called Dumb Butt Magazine, which puts out its first issue in May 2012. He lives in the Pacific Northwest.