the tide rises, the tide falls | an oceanic literary magazine
If/Then
by
Courtney LeBlanc
If we never met, if your hand never
rested on the small of my back, if I hadn’t
had that third glass of wine. If I hadn’t pressed
my lips to yours when the lights fell. If the moon
hadn’t been waning. If I hadn’t lifted my hips
to yours. If the ocean stopped crashing
into the shore. If it only happened once.
If I hadn’t responded to your text. If I blocked
your number. If the bees in my head stopped
buzzing your name. If you didn’t call me
beautiful every day. If I didn’t glow in response
every time. If the ocean didn’t swallow
the sun every night. If the stars didn’t blink on.
If my name in your mouth didn’t sound like love.
If the dormant volcanoes didn’t call to me.
If I didn’t answer.
Courtney LeBlanc is the author of the full length collections Exquisite Bloody, Beating Heart (Riot in Your Throat) and Beautiful & Full of Monsters (Vegetarian Alcoholic Press). She is also the founder and editor-in-chief of Riot in Your Throat, an independent poetry press. She loves nail polish, tattoos, and a soy latte each morning.