How it feels to be in love
By Samara Gerstle
Come outside with me.
Hold your breath for one
Two three seconds.
Doesn’t the sun feel good
Right before it goes
Down? I think I want
A cigarette, you? Yeah,
Let me get a lighter.
I like to let the smoke
Suffocate me. It feels
Good. Is that strange?
Hold your breath for one
two three seconds.
See the lichen latched
On your tree? It’s good for it
I think. I’m sure
It’s more complicated
Than that. Go on. Take
Another hit. Good, right?
Just stick around a little
Longer. Hold your breath
One two three. Exhale now.
The lichen is pretty, don’t
You think? I think so. Here.
It feels good, yeah? I know
It’ll be out soon. It won’t be
The last. How nice is that?
The Trinity Review 