Marlin M. Jenkins
Pokédex Entry #4: Charmander
From the time it’s born, a flame burns at the tip of its tail. Its life would end if the flame
were to go out.
As a charmander grows into the dragon-
winged charizard, this wick becomes
strong enough to force everyone away
with a single swish if it wishes. This ability to clear
any space with just your tail, let alone the fire
you breathe—how far is it from pilot-light
to core? How many times have you watched
the orange whimper in a storm, or when sick?
Where do you lie still when the dread hits? When
you consider swerving the car into oncoming traffic?
When you wish your skin transitioning translucent,
hold the wine-opening knife to your arm and
the next day wear long sleeves, wishing you won’t
see anyone you love? When pushing everyone away
isn’t by choice? Perhaps there’s a mountainside or
maybe a cave you hide away in, sleep when the fading
isn’t always explainable. Sometimes the world is just
too much, and we lie alone and motionless; we say
the cleared cavern is just where we go when
we need space, and we wait, hoping to become one
with the temperature of the room.
From the time it’s born, a flame burns at the tip of its tail. Its life would end if the flame
were to go out.
As a charmander grows into the dragon-
winged charizard, this wick becomes
strong enough to force everyone away
with a single swish if it wishes. This ability to clear
any space with just your tail, let alone the fire
you breathe—how far is it from pilot-light
to core? How many times have you watched
the orange whimper in a storm, or when sick?
Where do you lie still when the dread hits? When
you consider swerving the car into oncoming traffic?
When you wish your skin transitioning translucent,
hold the wine-opening knife to your arm and
the next day wear long sleeves, wishing you won’t
see anyone you love? When pushing everyone away
isn’t by choice? Perhaps there’s a mountainside or
maybe a cave you hide away in, sleep when the fading
isn’t always explainable. Sometimes the world is just
too much, and we lie alone and motionless; we say
the cleared cavern is just where we go when
we need space, and we wait, hoping to become one
with the temperature of the room.
Pokédex Entry #133: Eevee --> Entry #197: Umbreon
Its genetic code is unstable, so it could evolve in a variety of ways. There are only a few
alive.
-->
When exposed to the moon's aura, the rings on its body glow faintly and it's filled with a
mysterious power.
that which could have been
anything but is color
of a cloudless night
resilient even
in small frame, how the creature
builds its own defense
to take affliction
and mirror—see the damage
back on the pain’s cause
glow on black body
like Bruce Leroy—unlikely
light where none else is
Umbreon, I pulse
my dark, too—or am learning--
music as offense
my affinity
for shadows—identity
wrapped tight in myself--
dark, lonely aura
protection—recovering
here in the moonlight
Its genetic code is unstable, so it could evolve in a variety of ways. There are only a few
alive.
-->
When exposed to the moon's aura, the rings on its body glow faintly and it's filled with a
mysterious power.
that which could have been
anything but is color
of a cloudless night
resilient even
in small frame, how the creature
builds its own defense
to take affliction
and mirror—see the damage
back on the pain’s cause
glow on black body
like Bruce Leroy—unlikely
light where none else is
Umbreon, I pulse
my dark, too—or am learning--
music as offense
my affinity
for shadows—identity
wrapped tight in myself--
dark, lonely aura
protection—recovering
here in the moonlight
Marlin M. Jenkins was born and raised in Detroit and studied poetry in University of Michigan's MFA program. His writings have been given homes by The Collagist, Four Way Review, The Journal, and Bennington Review, among others. He is an editor for HEArt Online, and you can find him on Twitter @Marlin_Poet. His favorite pokémon is umbreon.
