Charles K. Carter (they/he) is a queer poet who currently lives in Oregon. They are the author of several books, including Read My Lips (David Robert Books) and Artificial Sweetness (Finishing Line Press). He is also the creator and host of the video podcast series #SundaySweetChats. Carter can be found on Instagram and Twitter @CKCpoetry

Omens of 99E On my way to work, there is a cat on the side of the road, fluffy and grey. She almost looks like she is resting but the circling flies and pecking crows shout another story. And I wonder how long she had lived aimlessly grey, in a perpetual state of decay. Then there is a dead black kitten in the middle of the road, paws stretching across yellow painted line, reaching out for something – or was it reaching for someone? And I think of the student I couldn’t save from homophobia’s…