​The Day After the Desert Burned, by Kathi Crawford

The Guardian of the Black Egg, by Leonor Fini (Italy, b. Argentina) 1955

​The Day After the Desert Burned
 
she placed her palms on top of her thighs, straightened her spine, and considered the scorched, lava-like ground and fiery skies; her gaze a “side-eye” to those who ignored the warning signs of Earth’s destruction. The shade of her muted blue cloak and yellow gown a stark contrast with the dull orange and dark brown around her. With the rise of a pungent, musty smell, eyes soft with tears, mouth dry, she wondered what was possible amidst these ashes for humanity. The ebony, oval-shaped egg floated above her lap, as if encircled by an invisible nest, not quite a part of her but a symbol for the birth of a new beginning, with the eventual emergence of the Yaddle-type creature contained by its shell. The egg a talisman to ward away the malevolent spirits surrounding them. As the guardian of the preserved egg, she and those who survived were granted a seven-year cycle to delve into the depths of their soul, seek wisdom and enlightenment, and turn their hearts and minds towards a brighter, more forgiving future.

Kathi Crawford

Kathi Crawford founded People Possibilities, LLC in 2008, and is a business/career coach based in Houston, TX. Her work has been featured online and in print in a variety of literary journals. Her new chapbook, consider the light, was selected as Best Entry in the Open Chapbook Competition at Finishing Line Press. You can find her on Instagram or LinkedIn @kathicrawford and subscribe to her blog at https://kathicrawford.com/.