This selection, chosen by managing editor Krista Cox, is from Welcome to Midland by Logen Cure (Deep Vellum 2021).
Rules
They say sit like
a lady, stand up
straight. They say
boy or girl; heaven
or hell; the Lord
taketh away. They
say tomboy like
bless her heart
like prayer request like
she doesn’t know
what’s good. Say
sin; say sorry;
say you were
wrong. They say
no means no; they tell
so many lies. They
say be a good
girl, don’t
say a word.
Logen Cure is a queer poet and educator. She curates Inner Moonlight, the monthly reading series and podcast at The Wild Detectives in Dallas. She earned her MFA in Creative Writing from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Her debut full-length poetry collection, Welcome to Midland (Deep Vellum Publishing), was shortlisted for the Reading the West Book Awards. Learn more at www.logencure.com. 
Krista Cox is the Managing Editor of Sundress Publications, The Wardrobe, and Doubleback Review. She’s a poet and editor and currently pursuing her master’s in clinical mental health counseling. Mostly, like everyone, she’s just trying to stay hydrated while she fights the system.
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