consuelo

consuelo (she/they) is a Californian poet based in the inland empire. Their work focuses on how identity draws on multiple facets of a person and what those experiences create. This includes arenas of life like gender, sexuality, ethnicity, race, spirituality, religion, music, family, and love. they are currently a student pursuing an associate's degree in english

Pink Paper China

I am eating this cereal

from the most expensive paper china

that I have seen in a while.

The soggy flakes are falling off

the plastic spoon like raggedy Annabelles,

I slurp them up just so I can fill my bowels.

Soggy, soaked, sour, cereal

is such a balanced meal, I swear.

Square in my pink paper china

pink pansies sit perfectly poised

to be gawked at by strangers

with cheap, disposable point-and-shoots

lacking both technical skill and an eye

for beauty. What a shame nobody sees

my pink paper china

with her own mind’s eye.

She is perfect for everything and every food,

until the creases grow weaker,

and the folds get wetter,

and the bowl gets flatter,

and the edges get lower,

and the pink starts fading,

and the paper starts breaking…

Then I realize, she is too far gone

so I throw out my pink paper china

and grab a new one

from the bottom shelf.

Did you know

my pink paper china

is perfect for everything

and for every food?