Hermaphroditos, Roman, A.D. 100–200
Beginning
I decide I am yours in my car.
You place dessert in my mouth as we drive
to the show, bodies filled with want.
Our hands always find each other’s.
And it is both joyous and terrifying the way
you make me laugh. The way you hold me
and sometimes ask
to be held. Your head cupped between
my hands, the faithful sweetness of
your curls. I know right then
I will let this ruin me.
Flirtation
I get shy
about FaceTime sex
can’t witness myself
witnessing you
spill wax
from my favorite candle
trap the smell
on all
my things
what good is it
to know
you are wounded
when you are wounded
is this it??
self-awareness??
tell myself I love it
castrate
the cynical
introspection
enacts growth yes
looking inward
does amount to
ripening
like fruit
softened
almost bad then
perfect
to know your gender
is the only kind
of intelligence
I value
Sarah Yanni is a poet, editor and researcher whose work can be found in SPECTRA, Pom Pom, Autostraddle and feelings, among others. She is the author of the chapbook ternura / tenderness (Bottlecap Press) and has been recognized as a finalist for BOMB Magazine's Poetry Contest, the Andres Montoya Letras Latinas Poetry Prize and others. She is Managing Editor of The Quarterless Review and holds an MFA from CalArts.