by Lauren Breen

“There are not enough jam jars to can this summer sky at night.”
—Aimee Nezhukumatathil

If only we could can the sky.
Vibrant sunshine to sip in place of coffee.
Spoon some summer when you are cold,
winter when you need to cool down.
Juiced rain to rinse your throat.
Jellied storms to ground you
in reality’s harshness. Pickled clouds that melt
like braised pork belly on your tongue.
Candied lightning that reminds you, I am alive.
Will the birds dance and sing in your mason jar
as well? Will their voices reach you?

Lauren Breen received a BA in Creative Writing from Susquehanna University. She moved to Pittsburgh in 2012 and received her MFA in Poetry at Chatham University in 2015. She became involved in Madwomen in the Attic shortly after graduating. She has since been accepted to Voices from the Attic, Dionne’s Story, Plants and Poetry Journal, and Wingless Dreamer: Whispers of Flora and Fauna.