By Sam Jowett
Humans said God created the Earth in seven days
in reality, I conjured it within two verses of a Glam-Bubblegum pop song
in full on Galactic dazzle femme
Mercury lipstick, Jupiter eyeshadow, Saturnalia dress
with rings that orbit like crooked halos
A flick of a pearl earring, from frontal lobe
a mirror ball, perfectly reflecting
pluck it upon the aether
let it float amidst the stars
tilt its nearest stellar presence
(Let there be lightssssssss!)
a nova of fluorescence
every colour, full spectrum, maximum saturation.
~ ~ ~
Consider, then
the earring, the planet
exfoliate its rust
bedrock orange primer applied thick
pressurized, gone molten
liquid cobalt blue foundation with an encore of
ozone concealer
Eyeshadow palate a million shades of green
rainforest greens and coniferous green and pasture greens and savannah greens
blend and blend and blend
alpine mascara, curl twin rows of mountain peaks.
coral reef lipstick
lunar earrings
heels to strut in orbits elliptical
all of it beautiful
all of it ignored
all of it ruined
~ ~ ~
Now
Oh,
what I would do to this planet now
what I would whisper into its ears now
what I would pour across its desert saltscapes now
how I would soothe its corroded exterior
how I would exfoliate its rust drenched cities
how I would dry its oil slick sobs
how I would whisper into its abyss ears
it wasn’t your fault
it was never your fault
if only a makeover were so easy
if only I could make it:
rain nectar oceans
blush fuchsia jungles
bloom floral fractals
gasp glasswork canyons
Give it a rhythm
Make it sing
Make it dance
Make it live
Make it queer
Sam Jowett is a non-binary writer living in Toronto, Ontario. They enjoy stellar magic tricks, playing the electric violin, and neon turquoise lipstick. Some of their work can be found in Hypertrophic Magazine, Room Magazine, Crabfat Magazine, and amidst the rings of Saturn. Follow them on Twitter @samuel_jowett