Inside Jokes of Possible Converts

By Marlowe Ryan

Would you be able to sleep with someone you pray for? Could you see me as anything other than the wide-eyed, bare-nailed goth pressing their ear to the classroom door, searching for clues through the soundtrack of the screening

I broke off our date to go to dating class since we both deserve not to relive middle school and I’m afraid of you catching my contagious tremble when I say she/her is just fine for me

Sitting far from the door so I couldn’t imagine you coming through, and flicking off the debris of makeup from my nights of solitude

I said the pledge with wishes but without a prayer a fatal mistake

I didn’t think to take notes and instead I dreamed of rolling under the stage of your church’s band pricking my fingers with my pride pins speaking when spoken to (lest I curse) being your girl

Or maybe you’d join me in the trees above a ritual like the rafters above a stage, the last place I spoke to God about a boy We’d watch our little crucible bubble while you kiss me and with a knife in your teeth you’d look at your parents and say this one, they’re the one for me

When I came to, my hands were bloody the fire alarm had gone off

I was speaking with no mind, spit evaporated to spirit Oh my gosh oh my gosh oh my gosh oh my God

I embraced the battle of flame and rain on my face and prayed to get you light as a feather and stiff as a board