three poems
by Mykyta Ryzhykh
i have death
and little bird and a little sun
in a painted window
(the window i drew)
clouds behind the glass
there's a whole world behind the glass
that you'll never see again
(vision is the executioner)
god has legs
god has no hands no eyes no plans
he doesn't even have angels
(all sold for charity)
i steal for you
i'm stealing from my talent
i even steal from every word-letter i see
(i want to show you the world by touch)
you don't know anything about me
you don't know anything about the universe
you don't even know about home
(you only know the night)
the night in your eyes is like moisture
that will never heal:
■■■■■■■■■■■■■
(__________)
*****
"sss shh shee shhs
his sih shi", –
glass says nothing
water doesn't speak but whispers
babies just mumble
people and butchers ever scream
the stars can only blind
i breathe in the air as if it were silence
i smile as if i'm still not dead
i stay away from you as if i don't love you
*****
your body belongs to death
who owns your money then
this morning you were fucked
for less money than promised
you should be happy about this
because life pays even less
parents don't ask their children
if should use a condom during conception
clients always ask you about safe sex
you are luckier than the children
your body belongs to no one
not even you
Photo of Mykyta Ryzhykh
BIO: Mykyta Ryzhykh, an author from Ukraine, now lives in Tromsø, Norway. He was nominated for a Pushcart Prize in 2023 and 2024. He’s published in many literary magazines іn Ukrainian and English: Tipton Poetry Journal, Stone Poetry Journal, Neologism Poetry Journal, Shot Glass Journal, QLRS, The Crank, Chronogram, The Antonym, Monterey Poetry Review, Five Fleas Itchy Poetry and many others.