Black Forest

by Mykki Rios

cake darkened with cocoa

to resemble the woods around the babes

who wander from the narrow path

with red hoods and breadcrumb trails

in the dark there are hints at

witches’ talons/beasts’ hackles

piped cream laying blissful as a first snow

studded with ichor/syrup cherries

rosy youths waiting to be gobbled whole

milky snow remains innocent/oblivious

fragrant with liqueurs older

than most have been alive

enchanting mouthful/maws snaps shut

BIO: Mykki Rios is a queer genderfluid Mexican-American writer, performer and multimedia artist. Raised in Chicago, and having lived many places across the globe, they recently returned home to the Windy City. Mykki has had works featured in issues of HAD, londemere lit, Tampa Review, The Bloomin' Onion, and more. They were also a finalist in Lupercalia Press' 2022 Chapbook Series Contest. In 2025 they had poems nominated for both the Monarch Queer Literary Award and the Pushcart Prize. Social Media: abbisynths on Twitter and Instagram, mykkirioswrites on Bluesky