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September 1, 2026 Poetry

on pure desire

Nicole Fegan

on pure desire photo

all that begins in fantasy dies in memory
        —fragmentary, torn— 
senses working overtime to render: 

body ringing hot and sharp, 
subconscious sucking your finger 
on the sidewalk corner, pull me 
upside down and arched, 
lick your tongue against my tongue,
palms gripped in holy reverence 
        —to feel your skin even now— 

but when i die, 
no one alive will know 
to call to let you know 
so i search for the immortal: 
ration the rest of the smoke, 
spend hours tracing maps 
to find the pub marquee 

        —and i meant it when i said 
that sex is soul and soul is sex 

        —so yes, 
yes, yes, i am smelling metal 
in my teeth after the rain, i am 
eking silhouettes out of flower buds,
i am blinking my eyelids past their capacity 

        —i am tasting all that you left on me


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