Sometimes my memories are a
hesitation
they fall in with one another
until I can no longer recognize the street
corner we stooped upon
in the fragments before
the bus arrived
when sour candies puckered away
the anxiety of moments
that chased us here
further into what we don’t know
like when the streets will stop
winding into walks we don’t cross
like when the shadows of what was
lurk over what is to come
light poles blink
and I have to squint
to see you there
I do not like it
but the reds and whites of cars
shuffling say it’s okay
it’s okay
for strangers to witness
steal our magic
right before it calls us aboard
it stops running
two feet behind where it ought to be
and we were given
another
h e s i t a t i o n

SarahAnn Harvey (she/they) is a queer poet, writer, artist, cat n’ plant lover, and avid tea drinker, based out of Portland, OR. She is the founder of Pile Press, where they publish works of women, non-binary, and gender non-conforming creatives. She has a BA in English and Writing.