Dear Readers, Welcome back to Tea & Oranges! Before today’s piece, I would like to take the time to share some very exciting news regarding the anthology. On February 17, we are officially launching the first print edition of Tea & Oranges! This print edition will feature all the pieces published from our inception up until the end of 2024, as well as showcasing artwork from young Canadian artists. Mark your calendars for the evening of Monday February 17th, when we will be hosting a launch event for the Tea & Oranges anthology! The launch event will take place at Concordia's QPIRG building, and Sipora and I would be pleased to see you all there. More details regarding the upcoming launch event will be posted on our Instagram page very soon. As for today’s piece, it is a beautiful poem written by Edmonton based writer, Rachel Fast. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. Anna, Editor-in-Chief
Rachel Fast is a writer based in Edmonton, Alberta. She considers this piece both a personal account and the painting of a mind that considers the worst possible outcomes. Rachel recommends eating boxed mac and cheese in the dead of night.
Her eyes dart from corner to corner
As if obscenities stream from her fingertips
He knows she isn’t capable of obscenities
He knows her well and not at all.
She hasn’t told him how this body sucks her in,
She hasn’t told him how she lives in a purgatory between head and heart
How uncertainty weighs heavy and tight like a rope, a ribbon
Around her chest and neck making red, raw skin.
If she feels like it, she can ease it off with two fussing fingers
Kissing her tugged-up shoulders all the way to her feet
How will she explain that it will find its way back later?
Maybe a look into his brown eyes will drag it up and tie it tight.
Maybe he’ll see how well it fits and begin to like when it’s on.
It’s easier for him to be cruel when empty eyes look back.
She thinks about telling him that someone helped her weave and fasten it,
That someone worked to forge the iron bars.
That someone received a thank you and a kiss.
She thinks of how he would rage against the traitorous ribbon.
Let’s now be truthful,
She won’t tell him any of this.
Eventually, she will break and he will know how blissfully he has been loving no one
For now, silk hugs skin