Poem Published in LVDR

I am thrilled, humbled, and proud to announce that my poem, "Untitled", has been published in Issue No. 1 of LVDR, Norfolk's newest queer magazine.

This Spring 2023, LVDR's very first issue will be printed and distributed in limited quantities. The magazine is written, designed, and produced by my dearest friends Dana Chesser and Harper Imm. The issue includes articles about finding queer identity and community in Norfolk, Virginia, and creative submissions by individuals who are part of the Tidewater LGBTQIA+ community.

There are not enough words in existence to express how proud and delighted I am for my friends for publishing this magazine. I am just so grateful I could be part of its fruition: as a contributor to the magazine, late night article proofreader, title/subtitle brainstormer, and occasional shoulder to cry on or vent frustrations.

For your convenience, I have included my poem selected for publication below.

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Untitled

by bel

i take pictures to remember while you

climb bayside trees. my mouth wants to beg “hang

down and let me kiss you” but there’s no need.

my legs already lead me forward, your

head already turned downward toward the sand—

your lips beckoning “come kiss me, come kiss

me” like that one scene in that movie. feel

the laughter press between our lips and melt

into our breath. we become little girls

again. you make me feel so good. so good

that i feel free—brave enough to do and

be anything with you. for you. like drink

coconut milk, watch scary movies and

like it; kiss you out in public, forget

that people can see; wear pretty black dresses,

make friends along the way; lick ice cream off

your salty palm, drip drip, lay my head upon

your knees; knock into each other at the

roller rink, give bad advice; argue with

friends but always come back, come back, come back;

hang around the art room, sneak into the

studio; paint together, paint to get

her, paint my body please. let me perform

for you. i am your creation, your muse.

i remember laying down that night in

your passenger seat, your body stretched across

the center console to lay above mine.

i remember how deliciously your

face was illuminated by the neon

red spilling off the awning of the shops

we’d parked beside. i remember how i

could’ve asked to devour you in the backseat

we had ignored. but all i could do was

admire how beautiful you were that night

looking down on me looking up at you.