The Heat

Jess Thursland

she/her

In the heat of one summer afternoon

I had her to myself, and the

air—thick, like a honeyed spoon—

held us in its golden mouth.

Behind thin curtains the sun

kept rising, over and over, shy,

unsure which direction to choose.

Jess Thursland is a queer poet from New York who bounces between Long Island, Yonkers, and the Mid-Hudson Valley, writing about sapphic love and loss and finding inspiration from the natural world. She is currently studying music production with a special interest in audio engineering at Sarah Lawrence College, combining her love of creative writing with her passion for music.