"Hunger pains" by Damien Posterino

Poor poets who can’t afford food

feast on metaphors.

I’ve replaced my desires

with the best finely ground espresso-

nonstop hot black

caffeine shots.

I feel edgy

about this addiction, but surely

everyone can see

how much I pine for you.

Your Latino lips dripped gold like the filter-

“mi amor, have you had your coffee?”

I’ve been watching

Cinema Paradiso again,

drowning in my own nostalgia.

Looking at you so far away

inside this broken photo frame-

you won’t stop staring back at me

for being a fool.

When love gets too much,

I cover it

with hard winter snow.

It melted

like I did

when you whispered

in my ear,

you wanted me to stay.

Damien Posterino (he/him) is a Melbourne-born, London-based poet who recently spent 18 months writing in Mexico. He explores characters, conversations, and capturing moments in time. His work can be seen in over 30 different publications including A Thin Slice of Anxiety, Roi Fainéant Press, Fish Barrel Review, and The Madrigal. You can find him on Twitter @damienposterino