At the Edge of Mind

Adriana Socoski

A doe forages the imagined grass
Of a borderless distance.

Speech is the tree line of your easy chair—

The tipsy slurring of worlds
AWOL from fixed positions.

A burst of squawking flight leaves an underbrush of talk

And the golden moth in dialogue
With other iridescent field languages

Idles past. Speech is deciduous.

Adriana Socoski is a poet, teacher, and musician. She is a PhD candidate at the University of Denver.
Originally published:
June 1, 2020

Featured

Searching for Seamus Heaney

What I found when I resolved to read him
Elisa Gonzalez

What Happened When I Began to Speak Welsh

By learning my family's language, I hoped to join their conversation.
Dan Fox

When Does a Divorce Begin?

Most people think of it as failure. For me it was an achievement.
Anahid Nersessian

You Might Also Like

The Lord Rejoiced

Adriana Socoski

Blue Shift

Fady Joudah

New Annie Ernaux, only in print

Our Summer 2026 issue includes an essay by Annie Ernaux, available only to print subscribers. Subscribe by May 11.
Subscribe