Author: Kirslyn Schell-Smith

Kirslyn Schell-Smith (she/her) is an artist, writer, and photographer with a BA in Studio Art from Denison University and an MFA from Ithaca College. She became interested in art and writing at a young age. In fact, her first camera was a Fisher-Price Perfect Shot that took 110 film. As of 2020, that film may or may not have been developed...its current whereabouts are unknown. She prefers to write when she isn't expecting it; her psychiatrist's office, in her car in a parking lot, in between clients, in bed at 2am, standing in line at the grocery store, and while she's avoiding the household chores. She has most recently been published by Paul Soulellis, Pilot Press, Soft Lightning, The Los Angeles Press, and Genre Urban Arts (upcoming). Follow her on Instagram @kirslynschellsmithart.

Mood Rings

By : Kirslyn Schell-Smith February 7, 2021 Comments Off

I said I was going to write more about how her eyes are like mood ringsEyes like mood rings and I’m the only one who can decode themBlue when she’s calm, happy, contentGreen when she’s calm, happy, contentShit, that’s not rightI’d have to ask…but still,Sometimes they’re hazelOther times blue like the raffle ticket scrunched up in my pocket from the county fairLooking to see what NFL players kneelI wonder if the networks are going to stop panning on the players if they kneelCensorshipYou see, when you live in a predominately military area and you’re watching a game on TV at a bar, at the end of the national anthem, some people clap…Uh, you’re not at the game, nor did you stand up so SIR, PLEASE SIT THE FUCK DOWN.Anyway, her

9 Minute Poem

By : Kirslyn Schell-Smith February 7, 2021 Comments Off

When you have a panic attack they say to try a grounding technique Name 5 things you can see Name 4 things you can touch Name 3 things you can hear Name 2 things you can smell Name 1 thing you can taste Breathe in Hold it Hold it Hold it Let it out Let me smash this bottle against a wall the wall you pushed me into the night you tore off my underwear as if you were running from the cops I can’t believe I got into a fight with her about you When I invited you in I wasn’t inviting you in. Listen to music, drink a beer, lose to me in pong… This night was supposed to be like every other night. Was it my boxer

Broken Serotonin Machine

By : Kirslyn Schell-Smith December 28, 2020 Comments Off

There is something I must get off my chest tonightand I want you to know first of all that I'm okay and I'm not okay The next time it happens never feels like it did beforeIt's always going to come at some pointBut it never feels like the methods I used last time would help right nowEach beast is shaped differently. I’m not sure how to tell you to help me I used to listen to the CD “When Broken is Easily Fixed” Must be nice— I’m not broken Is there a word for this? I'm not an artist I'm not a writer I'm not black I’m not gay I'm not as smart as I pretend to be My brain chemistry must be controlled by substances I can't control everything

Sifting

By : Kirslyn Schell-Smith December 28, 2020 Comments Off

I’m trying to sift between something tangible and something imperceptible something like that slightly wet and malleable sand that’s best for making sandcastles blue Play-Doh rubber cement cream sauce that’s been in the fridge overnight Jell-O gel medium cottage cheese or that mixture of glue, flour, and water for papier-mâché that’s too thick to work properly Something like him mansplaining the non-existent friendzone to you while you’re sitting on his face for the second time tonight, and the third time in as many days something like her messaging you on Facebook to break up with you when she has your phone number or trying to decide if you should hold his hand or wait for her to hold yours is it too early to call her? 3 on the Kinsey

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Author: Kirslyn Schell-Smith

Mood Rings

9 Minute Poem

Broken Serotonin Machine

Sifting

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