All While in Shenandoah//Charlotte Kudamare

AllwhileinShenandoah,
weracetherushingriver, 
asphaltcrackling, 
leaveshurling, 
butyoudrivethecarsteadyallthewhile. 

Something more than a friend, 
something less than a mother. 

All while in our pit stop, 
we brace the breaking basin, 
1000 photos of you, 
2 photos of myself, 
and you talk of the future all the while. 

Something more than a dream, 
something less than a promise. 

All while in Virginia, 
we crush the cinnamon cider 
donuts, sugary grit, 
oil-warm wrap. 
And you think of home all the while. 

Something more than yours, 
something less than mine. 

All while in Shenandoah, 
I love you like my mom, 
and you love me, 
like your kid, 
and we get to pretend all the while..

Charlotte Kudamare is currently pursuing her B.A. in Creative Writing in English at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Virginia. She is a fiction and poetry writer who enjoys being queer, translating Latin, and exploring anything that pulls at the heart strings. She has previously been published in smaller school literary publications and works for her school’s student newspaper in the lifestyle section.