Anastasia Vassos
Reading Jane Hirshfield at 6AM
After the rain all night, Jane crosses my silent path
to continue hers.
I follow her across the room
to reach the lamp—
turn it on, turn it off, turn it on.
The quiet light
puddles the floor.
I gather my skirt in my two hands
lifting the folds
to keep the hem dry, then change
my mind letting the fabric
fall into the damp.
The poems of Anastasia Vassos have been nominated for the Pushcart Prize, Best of the Net, and Best New Poets. She is the author of Nostos (Kelsay Books, 2023) and Nike Adjusting Her Sandal (Nixes Mate, 2021). Find her work in RHINO, Whale Road Review, Thrush, Comstock Review and elsewhere. She speaks three languages, and lives in Boston.
Return to November 2023 Edition
After the rain all night, Jane crosses my silent path
to continue hers.
I follow her across the room
to reach the lamp—
turn it on, turn it off, turn it on.
The quiet light
puddles the floor.
I gather my skirt in my two hands
lifting the folds
to keep the hem dry, then change
my mind letting the fabric
fall into the damp.
The poems of Anastasia Vassos have been nominated for the Pushcart Prize, Best of the Net, and Best New Poets. She is the author of Nostos (Kelsay Books, 2023) and Nike Adjusting Her Sandal (Nixes Mate, 2021). Find her work in RHINO, Whale Road Review, Thrush, Comstock Review and elsewhere. She speaks three languages, and lives in Boston.
Return to November 2023 Edition