Sarah Johnnes

Alchemy by Sarah Johnnes


Standing at the kitchen sink washing sweet potatoes,

I look out the window past the old scratched soda bottles 

rescued from the wusband. They say “Dream. A little bit of 

sunshine in every sip.” Dream. Dream of suprificious 

relationships that you want to peel. Peel away sadness. 

Peel away distress. Just peel away like the fasted car at late 

night street races. My skin is rubbed raw. My knuckles

punched through limitations as if they were jets breaking 

sound barriers. I will eat these barriers, barf them up, and 

bury them, I will grow sweet beets beneath. I will use beetroot 

juice to conjure love spells. Do you understand? Do you 

see the nature beneath? Do you want to join me? We can 

fly out the kitchen window over the gingko tree and 

perch on the sick cedar dripping sap from broken 

pine cones. Will you have a sip with me? An afternoon 

aperitif of sorrow. - in grandma’s chipped crystal


Sarah Johnnes was raised near NYC and currently resides in Eugene, OR. She applies her photographic eye bringing visual sensibilities to her poetry. She captures what is not typically seen, finds connection, beauty, and humor in everyday moments and captures what isn’t always seen. Her work has appeared in Cathexis Northwest.