Rae Rozman

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I just forgot the word for penguin…

If I have forgotten this,
what’s next?
The taste of coffee burning my throat?
The feel of your name brushing my lips?

To define essential in any language
is to admit
what will be the first to go.
The adjectives?
The memory of stars exploding
into fireworks —
or were they fireflies?
The enormity of us?

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Rae Rozman is a middle school counselor in Austin, Texas. Her poetry often explores themes of queer love (romantic and platonic), loss, and education. You can find her on Instagram (@mistress_of_mnemosyne) sharing poems, book reviews, and pictures of her two adorable rescue bunnies.