Throwback Thursday: ‘Cry’ by David Ly

As we continue our look back at the authors and artists who wowed us in 2019, we bring you a poem from David Ly. Appearing here in its entirety from Pulp Literature Issue 22, this piece evokes the courage that arises not from keeping fear at bay, but in bringing it near. ‘Cry’ reminds us that in ever-present darkness, there is the promise of light.

Cry

and the devil limps over to you, bows to be crowned with white orchids

blink out glimmers of doubt from your eyes before they bloom

like tiger lilies on a black lake in the crater of a planetoid 

for what it’s worth, learn how to wear the glow of stars after they burn out

the trick is to know that a safe distance away from darkness won’t help you see better

          instead, rip the night sky down, origami-fold it into a beetle and slip it under your tongue

               a star died one billion years ago and tonight you are living in its afterglow

                    like how a hound leaps through flames licking at its heels

                         bravery is where you worry it might be

                              let the devil cry on you

For this and more, pick up your copy of Issue 22, Spring  2019 here!

David Ly‘s poems have appeared in several anthologies and magazines including The Temz Review, Prism International, and The Puritan,  among others. He is the author of the chapbook Stubble Burn (Anstruther Press, 2018) and the poetry collection Mythical Man (Anstruther Press, 2020). He can be found on Twitter @dlylyly and responds well to GIFs of Michael Fassbender.