Atlas of Essential Monsters | Melissa Severin

  Melissa is resisting the urge to write the single-line bio, "These days Melissa likes cookies and that's about it." Instead, Melissa would like to take a minute to tell you she went to New England College for the MFA she pays for monthly (Hi, Navient!). Nevertheless, it was invaluable because she got to work with mentors such as, Chard DeNiord, Paula McLain, Cecilia Woloch and Michael Waters. She thanks them very much now, in case she never did in the past.     Augury I.There again, sweat in the throat, bitterbuttons fastened, tonguesoaked, lambently new.The body’s disbelief—yaw of gait, delicatetango—a withered pulp perceptible. Marrow dark,acidic. Curetteautomatic as breath. You beginto disintegrate while dancing.The music like mold. II.Sorrow song, the single crowcircles west, whip of wind and wing.Atmosphere like eggshells cuppedin nervous palms. Tornado-green sky woven to lifeline.The smell of falling, tasteelectric—salt, pennies, ash. Countthe cracks, bolts drawn down,drowned