Jyotsna B Rao
A Spook Walk
A cavity of ash
Percussion of skulls
Sand storms the eye
The rasp of a match
Boggles the brain
Smoke rises through embers
Enter— dripping lacquered limbs
Beneath the skin of lake
Wolves like zombies chase
A maiden century scare
A howl into the devil’s dare
The tug of an internal orbit
The hooves of a horse rotates
Over upside down hanging trees
Bats that shit, Owls lo-fi hooting
Dark night demanding a stare
Promises unkempt, haunting spirits
Rising—
October spooky spine compresses
A nerve twitching gear
Whoosh, whoosh sounds spiral
Black river hissing
Whoosh, whoosh sounds bickering
Pale and pickled necropolis.
Jyotsna B Rao (born 27.12.1981), is the author of Eccentric Tales. The Creative Director of AartiQlate magazine (2012-2014), India’s first graphic narrative on performing arts, she began her hybrid writing journey presenting her work online and as solo exhibitions. Her other graphic narratives include Kāligram, Punchkanyas, and Buddha stories. She is the artistic director of Unicorn Performing Arts. Her poems have been published at the Page Gallery Journal, The Yin Literary, The Clit Mag (upcoming) Glitterhood.com and The Artistry. An active member at The TLB Digital City, you can follow her on Substack and Instagram@swordofscribe. She loves Wednesday Addams, colourful socks and writing with fountain pens.