Self Portrait III | Andrew Mercer

3 mins read

at          some         point 
while       you       create 
yourself        you        try
to              kill            who
you          are             and 
drop      your       psyche
in               a               bed 
of      pearls     designed
like        lasers       trying 
to           distract        the 
bug            that           still
dances         in          your 
head          and           you
think      it          whispers
darkness  into   existence 
and          sings         soft 
violence     onto      your
skin         and        tattoos
your        bones        with 
cracks        and         you 
pray            for           the 
sun             to             rise 
in           reverse        just 
because     it         would 
be        different       and 
you         no          longer 
can          feel            your 
toes           or             see 
the         window        so 
the            bug         gilds 
gold         and        pastes 
a               picture          of 
the    window          open 



Andrew was born in the high deserts of Northern Nevada and seems to be stuck in the sagebrush and wind. He gained his MFA from Saint Mary’s College of CA. He currently lives outside in ID with his wife and 2 children. His work has been published in Dunes Review, The Meadow, and Blood Orange Review.