living tissue takes on
gangrene’s golden tone
mined out
from belly’s depths
carted to the fires
purifying flames
purge the rot
with what face
to stamp this coinage
Shelly Bryant splits her time between Singapore and Shanghai, working as a teacher, freelance writer, researcher, and student of Chinese language and culture. Her first volume of poetry, Cyborg Chimera, was released by Sam’s Dot Publishing in October 2009, and her second volume, Under the Ash, followed in December 2010. Shelly loves to read, write, cycle, and travel, and enjoys the opportunities for all of these that her present migratory lifestyle affords.