Sunlight Crystal

by Scott Thomas Outlar

I wounded all my alibis
before fully forming

now the theory is dizzy
crash point of fever

shine where the clovers are smitten

gathering red leaves
for spells of caution

You told me every story
takes on a life of its own
when eager

now my mouth is dry cotton
thick fabric turn autumn

glow in the gown of soft feather

lining up the charge
for signs of contact

Scott Thomas Outlar is originally from Atlanta, Georgia. He now lives and writes in Frederick, Maryland. His work has been nominated multiple times for both the Pushcart Prize and Best of the Net. He guest-edited the Hope Anthology of Poetry from CultureCult Press as well as the 2019-2023 Western Voices editions of Setu Mag. He is the author of seven books, including Songs of a Dissident (2015), Abstract Visions of Light (2018), Of Sand and Sugar (2019), and Evermore (2021 – written with co-author Mihaela Melnic). Selections of his poetry have been translated and published in 14 languages. He has been a weekly contributor at Dissident Voice for the past eight and a half years. More about Outlar’s work can be found at 17Numa.com.