In August, the girls who flock
the waterfront, spoonfuls of gelato
in their mouths, exchange their kitten heels
for flip-flops or no shoes at all. They ride electric
scooters, bicycles, their lovers’ shoulders, their own
high spirits. My mouth
is apple crush and peaches. The sky is a kaleidoscope
of glare and ash. You light up Export A’s with your face
to the mountains on fire.
Poem, in its entirety, is available in the printed version of the current issue.
Bio:
DANIELLE HUBBARD lives in Kelowna, British Columbia, where she works as the CEO of the Okanagan Regional Library. Her poetry has appeared in a variety of literary publications, including the Malahat Review, the Antigonish Review, Grain, Geist, and Best Canadian Poetry (2019 and 2024). When not writing or librarianing, she spends much of her time swimming, cycling, hiking, and exploring the natural world.