we were never like
sisters, never close
enough to fight without
fear
but close enough to talk through
yawns at two in the morning when
yes, we know we have an english
test tomorrow, and no, our
conversation isn’t groundbreaking
but it’s important and it
can’t
wait
four
hours
I miss being close to her
music, played
underneath conversations about forgotten
homework and crappy teachers
I miss the comments on Instagram
posts and the random “can I
call you?”
more than anything I miss feeling physically
close, next to each other on the
couch laughing at cringy lines and roller
skating on a blocked off
street, sweaty and happy when we’re back
Baltimore Beat is running poems from participants in the group Writers in Baltimore Schools, which offers programming that builds skills in literacy and communication while creating a community of support for young writers.