2022 Academy of American Poets Prize

Major Depressive Disorder (Recurrent)

by Marissa Ahmadkhani

It’s driving through fog    it’s ocean salt
on skin    lungs underwater    ragged

breath    the light when waking    the cold
bathroom floor    it’s medication        stomach turning

a body creaking    a hasty goodbye        it’s avalanche
swollen eyes    sun hitting water    splitting lips

red with wine    a mouthful of blood    dirt
under fingernails        stale air warm and thick

the sun in your eyes    erosion
the biting cold    suffocating    sharp teeth

a fast grip    everything slipping
between        my fingers

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