and other words for “aromantic”

By Bracken Valentine

red string of fate wraps around
my hand my wrist my finger pulls tight
presses against the heart line on my palm creates
a dent makes a valley leaves a bruise
pulls and pulls and pulls and starts
to burn to tear to bite into my skin makes itself
inextricable makes itself unbearable makes me
watch my hand go red go purple go blue
watch it pull tighter tighter watch blood
as it finally tears open skin. red string of fate
rubs skin raw leaves marks. circles tight enough
to cut. leads nowhere. leads nowhere. leads nowhere at all.

Author Bio


Bracken Valentine

Bracken Valentine

Bracken Valentine (he/him, they/them) is an avid reader and writer who considers poetry his great love. Their work focuses around queer issues, trans and aspec experiences, and religion, and he hopes to write pieces that recenter the conventional perspective toward love. More of their work can be found @trickstersaint on Instagram or Tumblr.