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Undertow

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We met on the seam between two drownings, his cuff snagged in the kelp, my mouth lined with moss. He grinned like a man who'd forgotten the surface, held out his hand like a memory. I took it. We spun a waltz— water-logged feet brushing the roof of the wreck, the nape of our need. My dress leaked its scales, his coat shed pastured wool, each step stirring the schools of ash-bright fish undulating in rhythm. When the tide pulled harder, he didn’t let go. When the tide pulled harder, neither did I. What else could we do but dance, until the water conceded— we were breathing inside her.

Copyright © | Year Posted 2025




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Date: 6/22/2025 5:41:00 PM
Congratulations on your winner. Way to go. Sara K
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Jaymee Thomas
Date: 6/23/2025 2:41:00 PM
Thanks, Sara. It was fun to go through past contests and pick which of the N/As or low scorers might be better matched under another sponsor. It's a lot like matching your work to a specific journal or magazine -- often the rejection isn't about the piece but rather a preference. I can live with that :)
Date: 6/22/2025 12:19:00 PM
Congrats Jaymee. Loved the poem, especially the first stanza.
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Jaymee Thomas
Date: 6/22/2025 12:50:00 PM
Thanks so much, Rob. I think I got dead last in a previous contest, so that was my screwed part lol -- sharing third is a BIG step up :)
Date: 5/2/2025 1:22:00 PM
Congratulations on this winner. Way to go. So delighted to see it on the winners' list. Sara K
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Jaymee Thomas
Date: 5/2/2025 1:35:00 PM
Oh, Sara. That's so sweet of you to comment. Brian is a tough judge - I was surprised and happy to see I placed. Yours was really well done too. Keep on keeping on, as they say :)

Book: Radiant Verses: A Journey Through Inspiring Poetry