if the tall tree died the absence
would be taller i hope the maple
lives but the tree guy says it
says already says dead
it was a birthday cake flavored
protein bar allegedly although
it tasted like sawdust
the kind of trees you live in
loathe
people call cops on cicada
smears i hate that
my mouth
to live
Dana Belott is a trans poet, multidisciplinary artist, and teacher from New Jersey. Their work explores ghosts, liminal spaces, and the body. dana received their MFA from Pratt Institute after 5 years teaching creative writing in middle and high schools and publishing over 50 volumes of their students’ writing. dana’s poetry has been published by literary magazines including Hooligan and Bloodletter and their visual art has been displayed at The Brooklyn Artery and Rock Paper Scissors Collective. Their first chapbook, night terrors, is forthcoming with Seven Kitchens Press in 2026.
