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Sunburn

ELLIE WILMORE

It’s humid. The rays scorch my skin,

it’s reddening, yet there’s delight within.

Is it worth it? the slight sting

I’m consistently ignoring.

Yet my mind is warring,

between logic, between desire.

It feels like wildfire.


One part of myself screams, knowing I’m BURNING.

The other stays stagnant, refuses discerning.

The sun’s unrelenting, it’s shine fermenting

my body, my soul, it’s consuming, out of control.

The pain only grows,

time feels like it slows.


One moment is all it takes,

for all cheerful resolve to break.

But that’s stupid, vile.

I refuse not to smile

and ruin the sunny day.

I’d be a nuisance, a letdown

So, I block out the meltdown

choosing to fake it all.


But little did I know,

The sadness I stowed, refused to show,

was my downfall.

After all, the sunset doesn't get rid of the sunburn.

Emotions need an outlet.

That’s a lesson I needed to learn.

© 2025 Scroll Magazine

Scroll Magazine acknowledges the traditional owners of the lands on which we live and work, and we pay our respects to Elders both past and present.

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