"perception" by Taruni Tangirala

perception

there are holes where my truths used to be.
slithering slithely past the guards of uptight

veracity, qualms occupy the cavities of
self-honesty. sincerity is scary, but

i pull the bowstring of introspection
and it reverbrates, singing along to the

pulsating confusion that perpetually
enlightens me. and i aim — right towards the

center of disrupting fragility.
yet the arrow only hits its mark while embracing

it. and i can only conquer the target of fragility if
my ammunition embraces it — accepts it. the bow,

held tightly taut, shudders with anxiety in its
final stretch of affirmation. flesh turning white by

the pressure of cold metal on its grip, arrows of
discernment rather than disillusion holding their

potential energy against the wind, and my rigid
scapula slackens as my fingers release.

Taruni Tangirala

Taruni Tangirala is a writer from the Houston, Texas area. She serves as the founder and editor-in-chief of Réapparition Journal, an online literary journal that addresses chronic illnesses, and has work forthcoming or published in SORTES Magazine. Her work has been recognized by the National Women On Writing contest. In her free time, she enjoys watching movies such as Inception and The Imitation Game.

Headshot: Taruni Tangirala

Photo Credit: Staff