I was there before you knew me,
grasped your life with rugged hands
worn from shadowboxed years of survival.
Without me, you raced old monsters.
With me, you fight new ones.
I am angel and devil; I ask you to live
and tell you to die. When you fled, spawn silent
in your arms, I roared. No one leaves a god
alone. My heart, I love you.
You will submit to love me too.
Bio: Anastasia DiFonzo (she/her) is a San Diego based poet with a cat named Klaus. Her debut chapbook, A Certain Serenity, is forthcoming with Puna Press in April of 2022. Currently, her work can be found in Olney Magazine, Serotonin Poetry, Tempered Runes Press, and elsewhere. When she’s not writing, she can be found hugging her cat, drinking tea, and/or staring blankly into the abyss. Feel free to contact her at anastasiadifonzo.com, or on Instagram @anastasia.difonzo or Twitter @anmidaludi.