prowl

i had forgotten how fun it was to chase someone, anyone, inside a club 

i forgot yes! how was i supposed to remember 

the white fins of panic the constant over the shoulder 

the lights one two open shut 

and they’re playing my song playing all of a sudden 

the minute you walked in the joint 

the fever there no there search for fire doors, pop 

you can’t move 

exhale, whistle, clear line of sight 

corridor’s empty and down it goes 

the plummet 

the realization i’m everywhere at once 

Barbara Genova (she/them) is a pen name. Her first published work as Barbara appeared in mid-2021: in 2022 she’s been nominated for a Best of the Net award and a Pushcart Prize. Selected credits include Hobart, Strange HorizonsExpat PressSAND Journal and APOCALYPSE CONFIDENTIAL. She writes Runaway at https://barbaragenova.substack.com