Malady

Donna Dallas

A thimbleful of my blood

was all he wanted

I’d have given it

I’d have given a blood bag

but the bleed terrified me

I’m bleeding for it

if I funnel it out

I’ll die

if I die I will find what’s out there

which could be nothing

So I just continue to bleed

the fear of nothingness

is worse than the bleed

Donna Dallas: Studied Creative Writing and Philosophy at NYU’s Gallatin School and was lucky enough to study under William Packard, founder and editor of the New York Quarterly.  Lately, she has published in Horror Sleaze Trash, Beatnik Cowboy and The Opiate among many other publications. She published her first novel, Death Sisters, with Alien Buddha Press. Her first chapbook, Smoke & Mirrors, will launch this fall with New York Quarterly. She currently serves on the editorial team for Red Fez and New York Quarterly.