YOU’VE GOT A MATCH!

By Jodi Balas

You have a beautiful smile (what I’m saying is, your lips look ripe enough)
Thanks, your teeth are so straight (too straight)
Where are you from? (I mean, do you come from the poor side of town?)
Well, that’s a long story (don’t ask me that again)
Do you have any siblings? (how alone are you really?)
One is far away, the other – further (I’ve already blocked you on social media)
Are your friends writers as well? (is poetry all you talk about?)
Define friendship (my IG friends are closer to me than God)
What do you like to do for fun? (translation: are you worthy //what defines you?)
Sometimes I’ll get out of bed if I’m not depressed (not an exaggeration)
What music do you like? (by music, I mean I want to see how flexible you are)
I like most music (by most music, I mean I hate the two-step)
Can I buy you dinner? (by dinner, I mean sex)
Sure (by dinner, I mean dinner)
How would you like your steak cooked?
Medium (I am adventurous, enough)
Can I buy you a drink? (I want to see how vulnerable you can be)
I’ll take a gin and tonic – (I like testing my strength)
When can I see you again? (my house or yours?)
I’ll let you know (overthinking is a trauma response)

—

About Author

Jodi Balas is a neurodivergent poet from Northeast Pennsylvania. Her work has been featured in Hole in the Head Review, Painted Bride Quarterly, Wild Roof Journal, Humana Obscura, and elsewhere. Jodi’s poem, “His mouth, mine” was selected as a finalist for the 2023 River Heron Review poetry prize and her poem, “Bone Density” won the 2023 Comstock Review Muriel Craft Bailey Award judged by Danusha Lameris. Jodi is in the process of developing her first Chapbook to market to the poetry world. You could follow her musings on Instagram @jodibalas_