Fairest Narcissi by Gogo DeLeon
Here me, here me
cursed and damned to wait
out in the dragon's keep.
Knuckles morph unfair and anguished
in the light of day, one way and
crowned the night’s soundless sleep.
Dreams wandered off and
thoughts turned after.
Scorched trees and melted glass–
remnants of something prior.
Bounded in lacey theatrics,
shackles of reform,
disregard me transformation only
to hide away in recollection.
Keep out of such false perceptions;
touch my soul, smear my form,
as you make your way
to what is valued most—
Tie my hands with cold-binding chains,
but leave my feet free to flee
off, away, far far to an astral plane:
severed sorrowed stones
and narcissi frozen
in their height of unmet bloom.
Will you melt them on my graceless touch?
Anger misplaced and sealed
around my wrists and frons.
Curse the dragon that guards me–
cast in a curled pose.
Noble Knight, touch me where
there is no stone, silver, or floral decor
to block our union.
Free me, us, and do so without
the urge to kiss my cheek,
your heroic attempt to save
a princess who must
not lay with that scaly foe, and
marry a fair maiden’s folly—me.
About the Author:
Gogo DeLeon is a poetry, personal narrative, and memoir writer. They recently graduated from Seattle University with a BA in Creative Writing and a minor in Writing Studies. They spent their last year of college as the Event Coordinator for Fragments, SU’s student-run literary magazine, and working as a writing consultant at Seattle University’s Writing Center. At the Writing Center they published blog posts about topics ranging from awareness of fatphobia to the importance of writing. They have been published in both the 2024 and 2025 editions of Fragments. They are currently working on two projects: a poetic memoir as a queer, fat person in Texas, and another poetic work focused on the complexities of grief and shame. They hope to someday publish novels in the horror and young adult genres.