On my day set aside for art, I painted the pearl crescent butterfly. I chose the male, not because I’m a misogynist, but its colors are brighter, more tailored to my palette. The one in my in-box was perfectly put together, with an alert head, eager antennae, and shapely wings, an inch wide. A coat of orange was followed by a distinct black border and an array of dark dots in perfect patterns. and a gentle dabbing of its head case. It hummed in my hand as I let it dry. Then I opened my palm and it flew off toward the light. Of course, this doesn’t sit well with my father. The old man makes huge, rumbling dinosaurs. — ANDREJ BILOVSKY
Andrej Bilovsky (he/him) is a poet and performance artist in San Francisco. He is the former editor of Masculine-Feminine and Kapesnik. His poetry can be found at the Quiver and Down In The Dirt.