Karen Quickley is a North American poet and writer. Her work has been featured in numerous print and online publications, including New English Review. She is the author of the poetry chapbook “The Beautiful Thing” (KDP 2026, soon to be republished by Cosmic Oasis). She lives with her grey tabby pussycat in the Cleveland, Ohio area in the United States. More at karenquickley.net.

My Cup is Yours

After Catrin Welz-Stein’s Digital Artwork “Welcome Cup”

I came to tell you
That my soul’s dead,
But I can see your
Teapot home from
Where I sit.

For some reason,
Your garden’s got
The biggest cabbage
Roses I’ve ever seen,
And these freshest
Shades of pale pink
Confound my dour
Mood. I can see your
Red dianthus shooting
Straight out of the
Top of you. I see
Dappled cliffs behind
Your place setting
Inside of me. Perhaps
The perfume of your
Leaves is so profuse
That it suspends your
Lid, perpetually midair.

I told you you’re magic.
And something green
Is growing already
Through and from
Your mouth/spout.

I’ll take some honey,
But you’re all
I really want.

I Want to Marry (You)

After Catrin Welz-Stein’s Digital Artwork “The Art of Seduction”

This man is nothing
Like you, but he’s got
Your black bowler hat
And can stand in for
You for now. Of course,
He’s a bit stiff for this
Role of “placeholder.”
(He’s not actually
Human, like we are.)