SPUTNIK

I come from a long line of women
who love Soviet drugs

who know dancing
is only something you can do alone

who are so so good
at scratching backs

and singing
on command

Two fingers in my mouth
don’t make me gag anymore

I always remember
what I’m working for

There’s nothing like having a man
to trust

No, there’s no drug
like a man to trust

—

from The season of lilacs is monstrous–published by blush lit

Buy the book here

—

Francesca Kritikos is the editor in chief of SARKA, a journal and publisher focused on works of the flesh. Her latest book, The season of lilacs is monstrous, was released by Blush in October 2025. Her writing has been published in English, French and Greek in numerous online and print journals. She also writes the Substack column Body Composition.