Jasmine

I traced “sundayfear” on my forearm

All week

And when the day arrived I dragged my feet 

On the steps of the church.

She turned around, 

Grabbed my hand and 

Pulled me up the stairs.

Everyone saw first grade friends, 

I saw her purple beads that jangled in her braids and

Her honey brown skin.

Crammed in the pews side by side

I murmured a prayer to banish her name

But my skin screamed louder than I could stand and

Her name grew lavender in my eyes.

The color purple haunts my mind

The love of Jasmine I’ll never find.

Phoebe Woofter (she/they) is an outdoorsy Portlander with a B.A. in English from University of San Diego. Her work has appeared in Human/Kind Journal, Vamp Cat Magazine, College Magazine, and more. She is passionate about destigmatizing the lesbian identity and reconnecting humanity with their environment.