By Allison Phillips
the rot of wanting it too much sweet
California strawberries sick on my bared teeth
no I’ve made them afraid leave the room ocean salt
water heaved on the floor fish I didn’t eat squirming
suffocating tail thud thud on the floor like an aching heart
while they pretend to sleep huddled in the next
room afraid I’ll follow telling me
I look
so scary
uncovered and funny I used to think that feeling
scary would make me feel powerful told I am frightening red
berries crushed between my fragile hands fish drying on the floor
but I am ugly with it I thought I was being
careful please
please
Allison Phillips (she/her) is a dual MA/MFA candidate in Creative Writing, Editing, and Publishing. Her work is concerned with place in relation to nature and the ocean, and femininity. She is featured in several journals, including As Alive Journal, By the Beach, t’ART Press’s Between Queer Teeth anthology, and more. She lives in Huntsville, Texas in the U.S. with her two cats.