East Garfield Park
ghosts of high school basketball players
watch us dance our soles off
green flashing lights
illuminate abandoned hoops
sunglasses shield us from the commuters’ light
me in my fishnets, you in your hoodie
next to briefcases and shiny work shoes
crawling out of the catacombs
our clothes smell like a fun Friday night,
our stomachs sound like one too
the 30-degree wind chill is hellbent
on keeping us in the warmth of
together
the pinks of the sky almost make
your shitty bleach job turn blue
my colorful life paints
with all shades of you
On Our Way
Me and my brother wolf
red noses and snouts
pressed against the glass
of my dad’s old Passat
Light blinds our eyes
as we wait to see green
predicting the traffic switch
by counting to three
One comes quickly
Kids our age aren’t known
to wait around
for a start
His howls signal Two
cappuccinos and hot chocolates
Jaffa cakes and Plazma
Брата и сестра
Three drags on because
the red light persists
We are dumber than this car
My dad presses the pedal
before we realize it’s time
He’s never been more magical
Star
I can’t sleep without
the sirens and the bar fights
and the traffic noises
of the city
this escape to my Serbian home
has left me restless and awake
drunk stupid 20-somethings
have been replaced
by the neighborhood dogs
their barks echo through my window
and the empty streets
I pull up the covers in this room
devoid of the opportunity
I’ve become so accustomed to
my eyes settle on the same spot
my mom burned into the ceiling
with her own fiery gaze
the blankets scratch my skin
itching me to be
better
I unzip the seam keeping me together
squishy, fleshy steps
bring me to the bathroom
I wash the doubt off my bones
letting the bubbles take their place
the roof opens to reveal
an ever-stretching sky
I always knew was there
Lana Zoraja is a current high school junior with a knack for collecting CDs. She’s often spotted burning her favorite techno albums while drinking unhealthy amounts of cappuccinos. Lana absolutely adores the Final Destination movie series and still gets wary behind log trucks. Her poetry focuses on her relationship with nature, the body, and everything in between. She’s always down to go on a long walk, dance at a hardcore DJ set, or to lay down in silence.
Featured image by Eliobed Suarez on Unsplash.
