My Birth is a Hard Won Trophy - Anastasia Di Fonzo

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.