Afternoon Tea, Ericka Veliz

Sun and moon switch places.
I’ve aged, and so have you.
Years went by like minutes,
as they always seem to do.

The open window leaks poison.
The foul wind won’t retreat.
Air turns bitter with western ash.
I breathe it insignificantly.

Dried flowers lose full colors.
Ancient words lose meaning.
I’ve been staring at my bookshelf,
never living, only dreaming.

About the Author

Angela Vodola · Mount St. Mary’s University

Angela Vodola graduated from Mount St. Mary’s University with a degree in elementary and special education, and a minor in theology. While there, several of her poems were featured in the school’s Lighted Corners literary magazine. She is currently a missionary teacher with Seton Teaching Fellows. Her writing often includes a blend of nostalgia, introspection, and hope. This piece first appeared in Lighted Corners.

About the Artist

 Ericka Veliz, UC Berkeley

Ericka Veliz has been creating photographs since 2009; her works explore technical imprecision, moments of uncertainty, and displacement. She received a BA in art practice in 2011 and currently lives and works in Berkeley.