SWWIM sustains and celebrates women poets by connecting creatives across generations and by curating a living archive of contemporary poetry, while solidifying Miami as a nexus for the literary arts.
You’re forty years old if you haven’t accomplished something by now you probably won’t ever if your husband dies now you’d flounder in the water if you died now your mother-in-law would do a fine job taking over better in fact she makes pies you never should have had that breakdown in college or after the babies were born your daughter is right all you have are Facebook friends this house these floors this neighborhood this lawn is like some magical flower that bloomed in spite of your bad—everything everything. Bad you won’t write anything good that’s for sure and even if you do it won’t sell well
your fault too many hours in a daze too much overthinking not enough deep thinking not enough education not enough real-life experience not enough reading who are you kidding when was the last time you were able to focus through a new article that’s your husband’s territory the logical everything in its place the greased cogs the solid black lines the make your bed in the morning husband the nobody will ever want to read what you write husband the if it was so bad why are you writing about it? husband the sturdy hull that keeps me from sinking husband he’s right you shouldn’t get so offended when he says you should start a laundry service something that people actually need you’re forty if you haven’t accomplished something by now you won’t ever get in the boat of practicality let the strong engine carry you forward
Jenica Lodde is a human much of the time. Other times she is a bank of fog clawing her way across an ocean of dreams. Her poems have appeared in: io, River and South Review, Third Wednesday, Gravel, The Scop, Windows Facing Windows, Word Fountain, and others. Her chapbook, Emotional States, was published by Finishing Line Press (2020). When not writing, Jenica is daydreaming about repurposing all of her juice bottles and milk jugs into a supremely satisfying and useful work of perfection. Instagram and Twitter: @JenicaLodde.
