Typical deferral 
    of want: punchline 
with lightbulb suspended 
    above our heads as 
nearly-70 degrees lays 
    mist over midday
styrofoam & manufactured
    bowls. Pavement sketched, a 
fence begins with iron 
    unfencing. Sewage drains 
far under—-or right next to 

    us. Vintage pointillism has
always intrigued me; I throw some 
    wooden freak of nature into
backyard. It arrives in the turf’s 
    yellowed accents edging, yet 
the leaves disturb
    first. I remember, yes, we did 
advocate for bidets. An authentic
    Ancient Greek mask tries another 
attempt. Crazy how it’s always the left 
    back tire which flattens even 
when turning right. We mime
    antiquity, & some stolen mannequin 
never learns how to turn in full.

Aaliyah Anderson (she/her) is a Black and Asian American student at the University of Mary Washington planning to study English (Creative Writing) and American Studies. Her work appears in Beaver Mag, BarBar, coalitionworks, and elsewhere. Winner of the Poetry Society of America’s 2024 Student Award, Aaliyah is obsessed with burnt cheese and intersectional storytelling.