“kitsune no yomeiri (sunshine in the rain)” by Quinn Umeno
September 12, 2025
it is not a mortal/moral failing of yours
if you do not get chosen by the gods.
do not despair my darling- remember that you were a love story
before they wrote you a
tragedy-
how your love seemed to sparkle like dew and gossamer
remember that you had honey before they made you bleed
ichor for all their greedy hearts- how they shaped you to be slow,
and careful, and sweet,
your love is not a fox’s wedding- you do not have to kill yourself
when others see
do not bind yourself in a suicide pact with your heart – to swear
your soul to the titans pit
your love is Icarian darling – you must learn how to fall gracefully-
how to burn in the most
glorious colors, and put on a show
not even the grass deigns to cradle you when you leap from your
burning home- maybe it loved
the arsonists first
This poem was written by Quinn Umeno, a 2025-26 Youth Poetry Fellow, and performed at the SAL Presents event with R.F. Kuang at Town Hall Seattle on September 12, 2025.