CHASING
Kelsey L. Smoot
It was not transactional. I swore it.
Browbeaten, in no position to further
extend my credit, I gripped the railing with
fervent fingers, and sucked at the air,
which made a sharp hissing sound
through the crispness of the night. Faint
moonlight danced quietly overhead,
obscured by the hearty scoop of clouds
that rested on the crowns of the
evergreens. A broken heart searched my
eyes for something which remains a
mystery to me, before taking slow, elfin
steps back down the dirt path which
parted the woods. I could not deny
the small hum of joy that warmed my chest.
Solitude smelled of fresh mint
and molasses. I shut my eyes, and for a
moment, mused concernedly on how
damaged a person might be to seek more
darkness while standing in the dark. I
stirred only when a menacing wind song
indicated that I needed to keep moving.
Yes, I nodded to myself.
Yes. Yes.
Kelsey L. Smoot is a full-time PhD student in the interdisciplinary social sciences and humanities. They also hold a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from the University of California, Davis, and a Master’s degree in Liberal Studies from the University of Miami. They are a poet, advocate, and frequent writer of critical analysis. Their recent poetry can be found in Cathexis Northwest Press, Prometheus Dreaming, and elsewhere.