Jill Khoury

an edge | is like a separation without an ending

edges multiply into a galaxy
& wouldn’t i love

someone to press their
feelings all over my

feelings | forgive me i
threw out the bad news

with the bongwater | the snake
gets acquitted over & over | after

washing my aura opalesces
but my hair still smells of wood-

smoke | i add lemon zest
for a brighter flavor |

i fret like a bird i fret
like a horse — will i

ever get on a plane again |
coffee & cream is my

favorite flavor | or the sun
on my skin when walking

in summer | the carpet
looks cleaner in dim light

________________________________________________________________________________________

Jill Khoury (she/her) is a multiply disabled poet and a Western Pennsylvania Writing Project fellow. She has taught poetry in high school, university and enrichment settings. She holds an MFA from The Ohio State University and edits Rogue Agent, a journal of embodied poetry and art. Her poems have appeared or are forthcoming in numerous journals, including Copper Nickel, Bone Bouquet, Dream Pop and CALYX. She has written two chapbooks—Borrowed Bodies (Pudding House) and Chance Operations (Paper Nautilus). Her debut full-length collection, Suites for the Modern Dancer, was released from Sundress Publications. Find more at jillkhoury.com.