So Easy by Mel Eaton (Missouri, 22)

She made it look so easy                                                  She made it look so easy
to leave without turning back                                           to say goodbye and cut the ties
though it's harder than it seems                                        five loose threads all spread
if you love something let it go                                        . across the living room floor
but we had barely any time                                             . as they cried, little hands stretched
to grow before we were                                                    out for one last hold only to be told
tossed aside out of sight and                                            “Be mommy’s strong girl” while
out of mind.                                                                       their entire world crumbled.



​​Mel Eaton is a non-binary student at Truman State University in Kirksville, Missouri. They are majoring in creative writing and film study. They have previously been published in, Eloquence: 2015 Poetry Collection, Anvil and Lyre 2020, Oneiroi 2022, Windfall 2022 and Windfall 2023. Mel has worked alongside Green Hills Literary Lantern as a general editor and plans to go to Denver Publishing Institute to further their education in publishing and editing for small literary journals.