Jess Simms
On Becoming a Great Auk
You were king, once. Before strangers invaded, you ruled benevolent, a giant in small lands, so secure in your belonging, you lost the knowledge of flight. Once upon a time, your bones were seen as holy, your feathers magic. And they were, once. When you needed for nothing. When you were free to swim and nest and thrive in your secluded kingdom.
Jess Simms is a co-founder of Scribble House and the managing editor of After Happy Hour Review. They are the author of Cryptid Bits (Last-Picked Books, 2024) and have published stories and essays in Mythaxis, Orca, SLAB, Atlas Obscura, Rinky Dink Press, and elsewhere. Find them online at https://jesssimms.com.