Inspiration of Insignificant Things

by Ariel Tovlev

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​a forgotten spiral of tape
barely bonded to the tabletop
its sticky surface made unstuck
with hair and fluff and dust
soon it will detach completely
and then where will it be?
provided it doesn’t become
remembered again
and discarded.
 
and what makes us unstuck
to the objects of our clinging?
what is the hair and fluff and dust
of our attachment?
if I become unstuck too
will it be a gradual loosening
or will I be plucked
and discarded?

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Ariel Tovlev (he/they) is a queer and trans poet whose writing focuses on identity, spirituality, and finding beauty in the ordinary. He received his BFA in Creative Writing from the University of British Columbia and his MFA from Chapman University. They have been published in Wayfarer Magazine, ONE ART, and Pensive Journal, among others. He lives in the Maryland suburbs of DC with his spouse, their four cats, and a multitude of houseplants.

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