drive
poem by Ali Khan
a familiar feeling flutters inside me when you trace the wheel, so there we are:
16 and new; your teeth gleam moonlight, wind streams our thoughts
into the air, pushing 90 mph.
the moon: so eyes wide open that its gaze reflects onto the windshield, whirling like a mirrorball.
you: eyes wide open, and i laugh because what good can that do?
i’m smiling dopily, fond and forgiving;
catch the mirrorball, spin it in your hands, push your light onto me
your smile is glittering in my mind still now,
fingers flit across the wheel in reverse, sweet reverse.
Ali Khan is a student, essayist, and poet based in Irvine, California. When not obsessively reading Richard Siken and tracking submissions on Chill Subs, she draws inspiration from folk music and from exploring the natural world. Her poem “Sleep” is published in Wingless Dreamer, and her poem "For her" is to be published in ¡Pa’lante!. Most of her recent poetry is available primarily on Substack at alikhanask.