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Cover of BFB4, art by Lucas Kurz. A shadowy figure in a coat and hat stands in front of a bright and futuristic cityscape while wearing an electronic mask on his face.
Baubles From Bones: Issue 4
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Internal Alchemy

Huijia Li

Breath

is of the essence here.

Breath as bellows,

fanning the flames

of transformation.


Inhale.

Fire up the cauldron.

Air travels, in

nose, down

throat,

settles in

stomach to

feed the sacred pill

within.


Coalesce,

layer by

layer, wrapped

in desire, tempered

by the steeling of a soul until

there is only energy,

only the eternal melding

of light to dark--


Spark.


Some spend a lifetime in search

of eternity.


Others find it easily, sometimes;

a transcendent second—rearing—reaching—grabbing

you by the collar, when you pause

for a moment

in yearning.


Treading the path

Of stars.

Cover of BFB4, art by Lucas Kurz. A shadowy figure in a coat and hat stands in front of a bright and futuristic cityscape while wearing an electronic mask on his face.
Baubles From Bones: Issue 4
​Available for purchase:
Physical (NA)
​Physical (Int'l)
Digital
Subscribe

Huijia Li

Huijia Li is a Singaporean who enjoys myth, history, classical Chinese poetry and pottering about in the kitchen. Her work has appeared in Pandan Weekly, DUEL: A Myriad Zine by Hexagon, as well as a few other small press anthologies. You can find her online at jia-writes.com and on Substack at quietnightthoughts.substack.com

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