in the drink

by Em Seely-Katz

Lilac foams under a petal

Like a scale of skin, veins of pollen, soaking 

Up the gin and as you’ll see – there I am, whining. 

I’ll stop long enough to destroy a word, 

Gumming the sound like a true pervert. 

It is true. I, against everything, let myself hope: 

Against the dead beetle in my windowsill, 

Against the neighbor that watches me undress and crouch naked like a villain, 

Against counting just to three, 

Against the non-words mumbled out of the restroom to the next person in line, 

I live pressed up against a hard love. 

Em Seely-Katz is the creator of the fashion blog Esque, the News Editor of HALOSCOPE, and a writer, stylist, and anime-watcher about town. You can usually find them writing copy for niche perfume houses or making awful collages at @that.esque on Instagram.