coke drip prayer
i told him i was an artist
as i puked neon pink into his bedsheets
he asked if it was intentional
& i said “what isn’t?”
i left glitter on his pillow
& a bruise on his ego
he’ll remember me
every time he smells oranges & sour cream
this isn’t a breakdown, it’s a rebrand
call it postmodern femininity
call it body horror with mascara
i cried in his bathroom
filmed it in slow-mo
posted it to close friends
& titled it: “womanhood, uncut”
he texted me “you okay?”
& i replied with a poem
he didn’t read it
but it still counts for something.
Why I Broke Up with My Boyfriend
Cons:
Says “let’s circle back” in casual conversation.
Sleeps in socks.
Calls his mom “mama” unironically.
Only eats beige food.
Thinks horoscopes are “fake science” but trusts TikTok psychology.
Brags about how little sleep he gets.
Refers to his ex as “crazy,” then texts her.
Thinks kombucha is alcohol.
Believes in ghosts but not therapy.
Always “forgets” his wallet at home.
Weirdly proud of never crying.
Brushes teeth before breakfast (??).
Has a savings account but no bed frame.
Thinks foreplay means lighting a candle.
Last name doesn’t sound good with my name.
Looks at my friends’ boobs.
Wears a chain that says “loyalty” but won’t commit.
Hugs like a coworker.
Made me his emergency contact only after two dates.
Pros:
Parallel parks like a king.
Smells like expensive soap.
Great head.
Flirting with the Clinically Sad
You said
you liked my playlist
so I made you another one
Titled:
“songs to overthink your feelings over”
featuring sad girl acoustic
and one weirdly aggressive metal song
for inner balance
You asked me
if I wanted to go out sometime
and I said
“Sure”
in the same tone
someone uses
to accept a booty call
We went for coffee
and I told you
my favorite fun fact
is that jellyfish don’t have hearts
but still keep on
living
Which
felt like a metaphor
for something
I could not put my finger on
but maybe I’m not
as subtle as I think
Sarp Sozdinler is a writer from Philadelphia and Amsterdam. Their stories and poems have been published in Electric Literature, Kenyon Review, Shenandoah, Wigleaf, Maudlin House, and Pithead Chapel, among other journals. Their work has been selected or nominated for anthologies including the Pushcart Prize, Best Small Fictions, and Best Microfiction. They edit the literary journal The Bulb Region. Their favorite revenge movies are Caché (2005) and Blue Ruin (2013).
