BEFORE I GO

I’ll shower with my dresses

Put every good shirt and book away for my return

I’ll keep only a uniform for driving

I’ll remind you that

You look at women because you are alive

And as I drive toward highland park

I’ll take pieces of orange from your hand

To my mouth

Tonight I’ll dream from your eyes

to see what’s left around the night

And anyway aren’t you glad you can trust me

Since I met you in the dark?

And in the dark

I will sit across the room from a lit candle and blow toward it

To see how long it takes to reach the flame

Like wind on our houses

Sophie Appel is a poet and historical map archivist living in Los Angeles. She tends to Melrose Botanical Garden in its various forms and iterations. Her work has appeared in F Magazine, Dunce Codex, Metalabel, Bruiser Mag, SPECTRA, & more. She is the host of Spit in the Ocean, a monthly online reading series/ radio show on Lower Grand Radio. Her debut collection of poetry, The World’s Largest Cherry Pie was published by Dream Boy Book Club.