The Origin of Lies

Oh, Ila, don’t be weeping,

my dear, you misconstrue;

The sun is only sleeping

before it rises new.

I’ll wait with you til morning,

and tell you of the stars,

the memories adorning

the empty night with scars.

This love that’s learned by lacking,

whose vastness has no chart,

in silent orbits tracking

the shaping of your heart.

Please trust that nothing passes,

we only change our form.

The morning dew amasses

on leaves the sun can’t warm.

Child, listen, though you’re growing,

some things cannot be known

until you’ve grown up knowing

out here you’re all alone.

I’ll be with you forever,

these words will be a lie.

If I could but this deliver:

To live until you die.

So while you’re small, keep holding

my hand as though it soothes;

The world will keep unfolding

each wrinkle that it smooths.

Believe me when I’m saying:

Oh, Ila, darling dear,

no matter what I’m staying,

I’ll always be right here.

• August 2025

Submission History

Date	Publication	Status
August 19, 2025	Still Point Arts Quarterly	Pending
August 19, 2025	Sublimation	Pending
August 22, 2025	Palette Poetry	Pending
August 22, 2025	Macrame Literary Journal	Pending
August 25, 2025	Plougshares	Pending
August 25, 2025	The Celestial Glossry	Pending
August 25, 2025	Midsummer Dream House Context	Pending
August 26, 2025	The Plentitudes	Pending
August 26, 2025	Gavialidae	Pending
August 27, 2025	La Piccioletta Barca	Pending
August 29, 2025	The Aftershock Review	Pending
August 29, 2025	Raleigh Review	Pending
August 29, 2025	Arcturus	Pending
August 29, 2025	Banyan Review Poetry Contest	Pending
August 29, 2025	Hare’s Paw Literary Journal	Rejected
August 29, 2025	Thirteen Bridges Review	Pending
September 3, 2025	Hopkins Review	Pending
September 5, 2025	Global City Review	Pending
September 6, 2025	Funicular Magazine	Pending
September 9, 2025	Garfield Lake Review	Pending
September 14, 2025	Princemere Poetry Prize	Pending