When the condom broke
All my thoughts of you were inside it
You tried in vain to put all the pieces back together,
Picking up wet clumps still writhing
In your hands
But it was too late—
I was the opposite of pregnant
And you were opposite me,
Re-installing Hinge
And bumming a cigarette

Claire Marie Anderson is an art historian, writer of most genres, and genuine wannabe bohemian from Houston, TX. Some of her poetry has appeared in The Decadent Review, Alchemy Literary Magazine, Greatest City Collective, and Unfortunately, Literary Magazine (a publication kind enough to nominate one of her poems for Best of the Net 2023). She serves as Managing Editor for Landing Zone Magazine, and occasionally participates in freelance journalism.