What Went On Without You
by Yiskah Rosenfeld
Yiskah Rosenfeld holds an MFA in poetry from Mills College and an MA in jurisprudence and social policy from UC Berkeley. Poetry awards include the Anna Davidson Rosenberg Prize, the Reuben Rose Memorial Award, and the 2019 Jeff Marks Contest Honorable Mention; her work has been nominated for a Pushcart Prize. Poems appear in journals such as The Bitter Oleander, Blue Lyra Review, Lilith Magazine, Rattle, Cottonwood, Levee Magazine, and The Seattle Review. Yiskah balances solo parenting and teaching in the Bay Area.
half-burnt toast and raspberry jam
showering in the famous poet’s room
reflection of the stone fireplace in the window
my thighs that smooth, Miro-
inspired night of stars and moon
sharp pinecone better suited to your hand than mine
coyote mint, not just the smell but the name
a sweet, dust-scented rain
silence that would have been a different kind
black ants, black ants, and the nectarine
