she, her, and me

by Annie Tallis

She comes in the dark 

when I am defenseless, 

washes over my body, 

presses her fists down 

my throat and 

deprives 

me of my senses. I cannot 

sleep until I give in to the 

tidal wave of grief. Salt 

stings my eyes as 

tears race down my face, 

speeding, trying to prove

who loved her 

more. 

I wake, screaming,

drenched in sweat 

jolting at

the realization: I can 

never be hurt by her again. 

In my personal drought, 

I sit on the floor

of the shower, let the cold 

water run

over and under my pain.

Annie Tallis is a young queer poet living in Cardiff, Wales. She originally began writing poetry as a cathartic experience to process grief, trauma and pretty much any emotion! She has previously been published in Sideways Poetry Journal and Green Ink Poetry. She will have upcoming pieces of the new editions, both online and in print, of Inspired Poetry.