‘Sign’ by John RC Potter

If I could
I would wear
a sign
for all to see,
words of wisdom and wit:

Emotionally Closed for the Season

and perhaps that
would protect me
from those who
desperately crave love
but cannot fully give it.

Author Bio:

John RC Potter is an international educator from Canada, living in Istanbul. His poems, stories, essays, and reviews have been published in a range of magazines and journals, most recently in Blank Spaces. The author’s story, “Ruth’s World” (Fiction on the Web, March 2023) was nominated for the prestigious Pushcart Prize. His first full-length publication will be the gay-themed children’s picture book, The First Adventures of Walli and Magoo, to be published in 2024.