11:53pm

by Maslen Bode Ward

11:53pm

sometimes I watch porn
where the woman is
an object and
the man looks
mad there is
usually a woman
and a man
I am surprised
not to have more
matches on hinge
aren’t I in New York City
in the porn I watch
the woman moans
the man seems
like he’s losing
his virginity
a man on hinge asks
my favorite three albums
and I’m happy to be
asked a question
every other
video on pornhub
starts with a step
step mother
step brother
step father
step sister
unfortunately this
never does it for me
once in a club
stairwell I came
close to an orgasm
this man’s fingers
pressed against me
in the best way
people walked by
I just stood there
the man on hinge
asks if I’ve seen
Kali Uchis live
he clearly has
and wants me
to ask him about it
I don’t
hesitate
no I haven’t
have you

Poet Maslen Bode Ward is a writer from Boston. She is pursuing an MFA in Poetry at NYU as a Lillian Vernon fellow. Her work is forthcoming in The Iowa Review.

Artist Marleah is a poet, painter, activist and Bay Area native currently living in Miami. She combines her passion for art and belief in the power of people as a catalyst for collective action and encourages us all to advocate for change and create a better world.