My Lament, or Notes from Remedial English by Jeffrey Hermann

The girl I love from afar said I had a face for football. I said what does that mean, and she shrugged with a half smile and checked her phone. Artistry. Oh, the gods of high school have not been kind to me. I’m no athlete. I’m no scholar. I travel a sea of judgment in a miniature boat I made in shop class. I seek the Chalice of Friday Night. I love her because her locker is on the beautiful side of the building. I love her because she uses the library and nobody uses the library. Will she ever love me? I wish to know her the way Sunday afternoon must know her. I wish to know her the way my lab partner knows the periodic table by heart. One morning during American History I saw her pull the sleeves of her sweater up over her hands and look out the window. It was the first day of autumn. Will she ever love me? She will never love me.

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JEFFREY HERMANN — Jeffrey’s poetry and prose has appeared in Okay Donkey, Lost Balloon, UCity Review, trampset, and other publications. Though less publicized, he finds his work as a father and husband to be rewarding beyond measure.

Art by JUNO HARPER — Juno is one unit of humanoid origin currently enjoying her pupa stage of metamorphosis. She likes to experience experiences, but qualms are an additional bonus. She is, of course, mortal, and hobbies include spacing out, fondling cheese, and interspecies communication with cats. As far as artwork, she likes making stuff out of other stuff and you can sometimes find her on her instagram account: @poptartgoosefart.