ELIZABETH TORRES

ELIZABETH TORRES

Luciferin’

Tipsy, soft bodied beetle

known to produce a cold light

from the lower abdomen

to attract mates or prey.

The form of the insect varies

from day to day.

In many species,

both male and female have the ability to fly

but in some

the females are flightless.

Most fireflies are quite distasteful

(to eat)

and sometimes poisonous

to vertebrate predators.

Sit down, honey

pour me another drink.

It would be difficult

to find a friendlier insect

on a warm summer night

such as this.

The State Of Things

Grief and hunger and insomnia

hangovers and migraines and Sundays

a box of secrets under the bed

you’d rather not discover yet

the smell of rotten bananas in the hallway

loud screeching of rats in the streets

or is it anxiety

summer and winter

bad news on TV

a desire beginning to take form

between the eyelids.

You can tell by the stench

that you’re not doing marvellous

but you are doing,

and that’s miles ahead

from anyone’s predictions.

Gettin’ On With It

Seagulls soar through the sky with ease

they know what to look for

and where to find it

they let out a screech here and there

it paints the songs of the ocean

with hints of comedy

then they disappear in the horizon

what is left is the galloping sea waves

arriving and arriving

but never really here.

People tend to have ideas,

they have solutions for problems you haven't presented

urgencies and timelines to tighten the shoelaces

all under the pretence of affection.

People worry so much about things that don't concern them

always finding neat tricks for your salvation

people know no better than to intervene

it proves their god-likeness

and ample hearts.

I soar through the streets with ease

I know what to look for and where to find it

I let out a screech here and there

It stains the days with hints of sorrow

then I get lost into the night

what is left is the sparkles of fire

arriving and arriving

but never really

here.

ELIZABETH TORRES

ELIZABETH TORRES: (Madam Neverstop) Bogotá, Colombia, 1987. Poet, multimedia artist, translator and speaker. Her work intertwines poetry, visuals and soundscapes, language and performance, combining visions and concepts across various art forms and media. Elizabeth is a prolific author of over 20 poetry books published in various languages, most of them which she also illustrated, who has traveled to 30 countries throughout her career as part of cultural events and projects. Elizabeth now resides in Copenhagen, Denmark, where she directs Red Door Magazine and a gallery under the same name and the art & culture podcast Red Transmissions. She is also project coordinator for other initiatives in Europe and abroad. Learn more at www.madamneverstop.com

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