"Sweet Mates" by Megan Cooper

Megan Cooper is a senior English Literature major. Her submission, "Sweet Mates" is a three-poem offering, written in honor of four sublime years at Maryville College — years made luminous by the presence of her dearest roommates: Sasha Hoenie, Meredith Wynn, and Sam Swann. Under their love, laughter, and protection, she truly flourished. Because of them, she was found.

To the truest friends she has ever known —
thank you.

sasha-
i’ll carry you tonight so long as
you promise to carry me next week.
with eyes the color of where
the ocean meets the fields,
i wonder if the stars are jealous of you,
as you are one of Oliver’s best geese.

meredith-
sweet cold foam on your upper lip,
late nights full of loud whispers and
light blues dance through my mind.
i feel like i have known you my whole life.
fake memories of bare feet and braiding,
swings and slides.
maybe we were always meant to be?

sam-
how connected are we?
that even in our sleep our souls
yearn to gossip and giggle
under the protection of the moon.
gemini twins whom are never separated
tied together with Invisible Strings
that the hands of fate could never cut.