Size / / /

When you left your body lying around

You must have known I'd borrow it.

Mere curiosity would force me.

So—what was it like?

Hmm. Where to start?

The world looked fuzzy

Until I put your glasses on

instead of mine.

A bit heavy on the nose and ears,

have you thought of lighter frames?

It was pretty odd feeling air

on my head, instead of hair;

I mean, I'd put my hand up to neaten my curls, and

there

was no hair there.

The face in the mirror was more familiar than my own,

Except that I'm not used to meeting it in mirrors.

How frequently do you think I look in mirrors, anyway?

Everything seemed a tiny bit shorter,

especially that bookcase when I put the books

back up.

The pans in the kitchen weighed a little less.

I seemed a bit more clumsy, though.

Maybe you really should do more around the house.

The mouse felt smaller in my hand.

And the fifth stair creaked when I stepped on it.

It's never done that before.

I liked not bothering with a bra.

Those other bits were kind of awkward

Until I got them adjusted.

Must be a nuisance doing that every day,

Especially since they're so sensitive.

I totally get why you fuss so much about good

underwear.

I walked really carefully in the beginning.

Talking of sensitive, umm, well, yes, it was great

No, just by myself, of course I wouldn't be

unfaithful!

So, yes, it was super.

But the reload time . . . well, takes a while, doesn't it?

Your nails were a bit of a mess,

And your skin so dry.

I took it in for a facial and a manicure.

Calm down! I brought it back, didn't I,

In better shape than when I took it.

What do you mean, cooties?




Keyan Bowes (no relation to our editor) is the keyname of an alien resident of San Francisco who maintains a well-appointed feline habitat in her day job. She is a Critter of long standing, and has recently started to publish non-nonfiction. You can contact her by email at: keyan_bowes@yahoo.com.
Current Issue
16 Dec 2024

Across the train tracks from BWI station, a portal shimmered in the shade of a patch of tall trees. From her seat on a northbound train taking on passengers, Dottie watched a woman slip a note out of her pocket, place it under a rock, strip off her work uniform, then walk naked, smiling, into the portal.
exposing to the bone just how different we are
a body protesting thinks itself as a door out of a darkroom, a bullet, too.
In this episode of SH@25, Editor Kat Kourbeti sits down with Vivian (Xiao Wen) Li to discuss her foray into poetry, screenwriting, music composition and more, and also presents a reading of her two poems published in 2022, 'Ave Maria' and 'The Mezzanine'.
Issue 9 Dec 2024
Issue 2 Dec 2024
By: E.M. Linden
Podcast read by: Jenna Hanchey
Issue 25 Nov 2024
Issue 18 Nov 2024
By: Susannah Rand
Podcast read by: Claire McNerney
Issue 11 Nov 2024
Issue 4 Nov 2024
Issue 28 Oct 2024
Issue 21 Oct 2024
By: KT Bryski
Podcast read by: Devin Martin
Issue 14 Oct 2024
Issue 7 Oct 2024
By: Christopher Blake
Podcast read by: Emmie Christie
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