System of Beauty
Mikayla Faivre
He’s found a system of beauty.
Sakura leaves dappling in the sun
Heaven's happy tears streaming.
She lingers in the dark
In the dry, untouched refuge
of the velarium’s umbra.
Heart's mercy unravels
as she toes
the line between.
She’s found a system of beauty
within his outstretched arms
and steadfast adoration.
A hesitant smile.
A flickering gaze.
A promise for tomorrow.
He offers her a sparkling
ring and an amorous vow.
A covenant forged.
Full moons of bliss pass
fraught with laughter
and plans for the future.
They found a system of beauty
together through tribulation
and calamity abound.
Until their intoxicating system,
upon attentive appraisal,
proffered a diminutive fracture.
She looks to the hallowed
heavens and curses
the day he lied.
He answered the call
to protect this land
and now his love is gone.
Warmth left
and cold returned
surrounded by the ancient oak.
Mikayla Faivre is from North Freedom, Wisconsin, and is majoring in Animal Science. She has always been enamored by storytelling and spends her spare time reading or writing. Mikayla is a recipient of the David Cole Award in Creative Writing. This is her second year as an editor for the Spirit Lake Review. Find her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mikfaivre/
Emily Finnegan is 16 years old and a junior at Baraboo High School. She's been taking photography classes since middle school and is currently taking Photography 2. Her favorite things to take photograph are animals and flowers. She hope to continue pursuing photography in the future.