Major Depressive Disorder (Recurrent)
by Marissa Ahmadkhani
It鈥檚 driving through fog聽 聽 聽 it鈥檚 ocean salt
on skin聽 聽 聽 lungs underwater聽 聽 聽 ragged
breath聽 聽 聽 the light when waking聽 聽 聽 the cold
bathroom floor聽 聽 聽 it鈥檚 medication聽 聽 聽 stomach turning
a body creaking聽 聽 聽 a hasty goodbye聽 聽 聽 it鈥檚 avalanche
swollen eyes聽 聽 聽 sun hitting water聽 聽 聽 splitting lips
red with wine聽 聽 聽 a mouthful of blood聽 聽 聽 dirt
under fingernails聽 聽 聽 stale air warm and thick
the sun in your eyes聽 聽 聽 erosion
the biting cold聽 聽 聽 suffocating聽 聽 聽 sharp teeth
a fast grip聽 聽 聽 everything slipping
between聽 聽 聽 my fingers
holds an MA in English from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and is currently pursuing an MFA at the University of California Irvine. Her work has been published or is forthcoming in the minnesota review, Radar Poetry,听The West Review, and poets.org, where she received the Academy of American Poets Prize in 2015 and 2017.