Betty Stanton (she/her) is a Pushcart nominated writer who lives and works in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Her work has appeared or is forthcoming in various journals and collections and has been included in various anthologies. She received her MFA from The University of Texas - El Paso and holds a doctorate in Educational Leadership.  She is currently on the editorial board of Ivo Review. @fadingbetty.bsky.social

                                           Bloom, in which she is the light 

sunlight pulses where blood should be—
               veins shrinking too tight
her eyes gone or turned toward the sun.
she blossoms into something
                 soft-lipped &
                 full of teeth,
                                devoured by morning.Glass, in which she is missing

the shape of void held together
                              with shine & echo,
                              with want & spine.
light slips through. hearts beat.
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