Skipping in the Vortex

Nathalie Kuroiwa-Lewis

You remember what it felt like once

to be the kid bounding

on earth so soft

bounding on tufts

of poppies and daffodils

planted on the edge

of a driveway

that no man’s land—

a periphery of space

demarcating

where the wild unfurls

into an unknown

between yours and his

and how impossible it seemed then to

discern

the bright reds and purples

beneath the feet

signaling

this is mine—

this is yours.

Nathalie Kuroiwa-Lewis is an Associate Professor of English and Writing Minor Director and Writing Center Director at Saint Martin’s University, a private, liberal arts university located in the Pacific Northwest.  She is also a board member of the Olympia Poetry Network.  She has published poetry in OccuPoetry, Social Policy, Penny Ante Feud, THAT Literary Review, Dark Matter, In Layman’s Terms and the Aji journal.  Nathalie lives in Olympia, Washington and in her free time, enjoys taking long walks, riding her bike and travelling with her family. She can be found at the following sites: https://www.olympiapoetrynetwork.org/board-of-directors.html https://www.stmartin.edu/directory/nathalie-kuroiwa-lewis-phd