Birthday Fog

You say you haven’t eaten a cloud,

but don’t tell me you’ve never opened

your mouth in morning fog—let it yawn

down the back of your throat, it’s frothy

particles filling you with an unrecognizable

gulp of glee, leaving you, like a birthday

balloon: high on thick, wet air.

AUTHOR

Jess L. Parker

Jess L Parker [she/her/hers] is a poet and strategist originally from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Jess lives in Fitchburg, WI with her husband, 18-month-old son, and Pitbull, “Poe”. Her debut poetry collection, Star Things, is winner of the 2020 Dynamo Verlag Book Prize. Jess’ poems have appeared in Bramble, Kosmos Quarterly, Blue Heron Review, and elsewhere. Jess holds a B.A. of English and Spanish from Northern Michigan University, an M.A. of Spanish Literature from UW-Madison, and an MBA from Concordia University.