Immerse yourself in Among the Foliage, a collection of five poems by Phyllium.

Among the Foliage

become one of many , absorbed into pattern .
borrow the colours of growth and decay :
of young shoots unfurling ,
and burnished brown of autumn's end ,
until even memory of being seen
dissolves into green
among the foliage .

I Gently Sway

I gently sway as the wind brushes by ,
letting the small motions soothe me .
swaying , swaying , swaying .
a leaf among leaves .
leave me here , unobserved ,
invisible to your fleeting human eyes .

Choreography of Almosts

forward , back , forward ,
a choreography of almosts .
one step forward for me ,
half a step back for you .
again , again , again .
progress comes halved , diluted ,
a pendulum at the height of its swing
resisting its own momentum .

My Wings Won’t Open

my wings won ‘ t open .
this jarring vibration trapped inside my ribs ,
like a second heartbeat
that doesn’t belong to me .
I think I am dying , or molting , or both at once ,
peeling myself away from a shape that never fit .

They Call Me Strange

they call me strange beyond these boughs , misfit to humankind ,
but here the light breaks kindly on the facets of my frame —
and in the thick canopy away from humanity ,
I shed the weight of being seen
and answer to no name .

About the poet:

Phyllium is a leaf insect and poet whose work is rooted in a neurodivergent and nonhuman perspective. Its writing explores the natural world, with a particular focus on insects and plant life, as well as themes of identity and the experience of being perceived. When not writing, it can usually be found among the foliage.

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