"Palmetto Girl" & "Losing Touch" by Katie Cisar

Palmetto Girl

golden summer baby

with blue sky in your eyes

and butterscotch lipgloss

put on to be kissed off.

there’s saltwater in your blood

and storm clouds on your shoulders

that evaporate beneath the touch

of raindrop fingertips. 

you’re a beautiful idea

created to be kept and 

used 

and adored.

so long as man can hold you

in the palm of his hand

and high tide’s teeth can sink

below your skin

let it be known

that you will be loved. 

Losing Touch

golden summer baby

the kid i used to be

if only you’d wear

your prettiest face

and come back here to me. 

they don’t want me anymore,

not like they did before

i was touched-

by rage and remorse.

so i let them slip away.

i don’t know how to make them stay.

if only i could be 

gentle -

maybe i’m just losing touch.

Katie Cisar (they/them) is a new writer from Appalachia. A selection of their poetry and nonfiction work has been published in West Virginia University's undergraduate literary journal, "Calliope." Their work focuses on themes of gender, sexuality, and power.