Prairie Witch | Rayni K. Wekluk
Tea leaves, fragrant in a small trash can. I see
Kansas and Lake Wabaunsee. Myself with all
the farm animals, square dancing at the fire
station. This watermelon season is infused
with last summer’s blood. Here now, I chant
lake and drown in it. Dark magic–a photo
of an old lover easing into
graphite, erasing itself.
As if we were never thankful. As if I wasn’t
on my knees in our cabin’s shower chanting
him, drowing in him. As if it were me who lifted
up my dress in the basement closet. How long
until I have nothing left to say? Until Kansas
stutters and I’ve cast a spell that sticks?
Bonus audio of Rayni reading her poem:
about the author:
Rayni K. Wekluk is the author of Garbage City Poems. Her poetry and nonfiction is published in Folio, The Linden Review, Collision, Passages North (forthcoming), and others. She graduates with a BFA in Creative Writing (Poetry) and a BA in English (CNF) from The University of Nebraska-Omaha in December 2025.