Verdicts In

last summer’s strawberry syrup sits in the fridge
my shoes should have been cleaned before I left them for you to ship

the truth turns so quickly
i find myself lying

the murmur of people sing a different song
our semesters are cursed to different timelines

maybe that was sell by
we aren't the first or last to try

pinky promise
being honest
syrup down the drain

Courtney Klaers is a 2023 alum of Cumberland University. They grew up in Tennessee, but they have resided in Indiana and Illinois for the last three years. They love writing poetry and prose and often describe it as “glorified journaling” for themself. They are inspired by nature, relationships, and the beauty of the mundane.