2023
POETRY OPEN
Honorable Mention
$25 Award
CAUGHT OFF GUARD
by Laura Bissessar

The wind came to me unexpectedly today
We always had a good relationship
But I hadn’t felt her presence in a while
She always brought magic from the ocean
And told me everything would be fine
I’d been lonely without her
Not knowing if I was making good decisions
I wasn’t
So I welcomed her salty breath on my skin
The sticky feeling it brings comforted me
I breathed her in with serene familiarity
Her body danced blithely with my heart
And though the moment was brief
She quickly held my soul in her gentle waves
And filtered my pain into the sky
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Laura Bissessar is a freelance writer and makeup artist based in South Florida. She began writing poetry to get through some hard times and finally worked up the courage to share it with those who could use some words of catharsis and healing. This is Laura’s first poetry publication. She is working on a book of poetry that embodies the unique struggles and successes of the millennial experience.