Forbidden

by Mish (Eileen) Murphy


I’m not going to think about my crush on you.

Part of me says, no, while the other part says, yes.

When you intrude into my thoughts, I yell inside my head: Unwanted. Go away.

It’s only hormones, mere biology.

I’d like to see your body all sweaty.

Get back to work.

I’d like to smell your belly button.

Stop.

I’d like to lick you head to toe like a cat.


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Mish (Eileen) Murphy is Assistant Poetry Editor for Cultural Daily (www.CulturalDaily.com). She teaches English/literature online at Polk State College, Lakeland, Florida. A Pushcart nominee, she has published two poetry collections—Fortune Written on Wet Grass (2019) and Sex & Ketchup (2021)—and a poetry chapbook, Evil Me (2020). Mish graduated with a B.A. from New College, Sarasota, in French /Russian, and Columbia College of Chicago, in Fiction Writing/Teaching of Writing. She is also an award-winning digital artist, photographer, and book designer.