Two poems by Hallie Fogarty

I’m Just Like This

I like getting tattoos because they’re a socially acceptable form of self-harm I like $3.79

transactions on my credit card I like numbers adding up I like masturbating while i’m on my period

because the blood looks good against my light pink vibrator I like pushing back I like forgetting

birthdays I like telling people when they’ve been in my dreams I like being impatient I like

showing skin I like reopening wounds I like pulling hair I like coming first I like my best friend

even though when we both got diagnosed with ADHD he was upset because he wanted just one

thing for himself I like not letting myself fall in love I like toeing the line of platonic I like distance

I like secrets I like shots of whiskey I like driving home I like shortcuts I like not paying people

back I like speeding through yellow lights I like looking through twitter likes I like starting fights

I know I will win I like being better I like pushing back therapy appointments then ghosting I like

picking at my skin until it bleeds because it feels like getting away with something I like long nails

I like making things about me I like hiding from intimacy I like shit-talking I like shit-posting I

like lying when I can get away with it I like being loud I like being quiet I like being so quiet you’ll

tell me your secrets I like keeping my cards under the table I like cheating when I can get away

with it I like not being in love I like sleeping alone I like my apartment at 63 degrees I like running

up my electric bill I like holding back so not to let you see me trying I like putting off the dishes I

thought I liked my ex boyfriend but I would often imagine someone asking me what I liked about

him and I could never think of an answer I like cutting skin I like knowing other people’s secrets

I like letting things fester I like scooping dead bugs out of chlorine water and setting them free I

like stealing when I can get away with it I like cutting to the quick I like throwing a devastating

insult I like being the smartest in the room and not letting anyone forget it I like throwing things

away I like ruining friendships I like talking back I like knowing what to do and not doing it I like

bettering myself for the sake of myself I like being right

Hallie Fogarty is a poet, teacher, and artist from Kentucky. She received her MFA in poetry from Miami University, where she was awarded the 2024 Jordan-Goodman Graduate Award for Poetry. Her work has been published or is forthcoming in Poetry South, The Lindenwood Review, Hoxie Gorge Review, and elsewhere. Besides writing, she loves cardigans, dogs, and everything peach-flavored. Find her online: www.halliefogarty.com