On the beach we taste salt when we speak. Sand clings to the backs of our knees. The air is thick and heavy with the smell of seaweed, waffle cones, and frying oil. My toddlers squeal, whine, and toss sand. The seagulls swoop and holler, peck and tousle over discarded funnel cake and French fry bits. One gull breaks away from the squawking gaggle of feathers, spreads his wings, soars above the waves, sun reflecting his sleek side. I close my eyes. The wind whips my hair. I imagine a weightlessness in the spritz of the sea— flying away, away, away.
Third Place Fall Contest 2023. Bethany used strong sensory details, rhythmic repletion, and a what-if reflection to convey not only scene but also hint at the pressures of her current life. The ending surprises: the mother wanting to fly away, even if only in a momentary dream.—Karen Zey
Bethany Jarmul is the author of two chapbooks and one poetry collection. She lives with her family near Pittsburgh. bethanyjarmul.com Instagram and Twitter: @BethanyJarmul