Poetry by Skyler Jaye

I'd Kiss Your Friendship on the Mouth

There were nights we sang so loud

grief couldn’t hit our bones-

our faces masqueraded by dancing fire.

Beer chimes ringing by the beach

made themselves miracle

our voices reached for skies

drowned by flames,

a greeting for our hearts to follow

we know there’s home for each of us

in the sand we dig our feet into.

We can only hollow out each moment

with the seashells we use as percussion.

I'd kiss your friendship on the mouth

if it meant I could keep all of you.

Skyler Jaye is a queer poet and writer. She's the NF editor of Variety Pack and the author of A Mountain of Past-Lives & Things I've Learned (Blazevox, 2019). She's been published online and in-print including Ligeia Magazine, Ghost City Press, Emrys Journal, and more. 

Find her tweeting @SkylerJaye23 (she/her/they/them).