Claudia Cortese‘s poems have appeared or are forthcoming in Best New Poets 2011, Blackbird, Crazyhorse, Hayden’s Ferry Review, and DIAGRAM, among others. Cortese recently completed her first book of poetry, which explores trauma, myth, fairy tales, and girlhood. She lives and teaches in New Jersey.
Winter 2013
Hurricane Irene Fingers My Hair
The night is light-webbed, silver-ribbed—all spearmint- scented ghost fuzz, all dancing the dance of end days, of the Kingdom of What Is Not: a black so black it neons, a green so green it furs our skin like leaves, like wolves.