Anonymously

all my friends’ champagne bubbles speak

their personality changes they perceive as tongue and cheek 

even if their desire to grow old in the moment is bleak

the impermanence somehow evergreen

they got the mindset for 

isolations of maybe 24 hours

and they live anonymously

in alter egos

sunken eyes and bubbles as cheap cheat codes 

the r- rated version of the adolescent show 

they think that’s what they’re getting.

—- until it becomes habit

and they leave the label at the valet, whiskey just tab it 

lunchboxing childhood in between the teenage koolaid straw cables

now doused in tequila 

tickets stick to the tables that they’re afraid to turn 

deflecting with the shots that burn

that i wish was the beverage of choice instead of ones mixed together adorned 50 proof labels

About the Author

Ryland McGinniss is a junior History and English major with a minor in Gender and Sexuality Studies. He loves to do advocacy work whenever he can, and honestly you'll probably see some of that reflected in his writing. When he's not busy with writing, he listens to music and one of his most prized possessions is his concert t-shirt collection.