[POETRY]

[11/19/25]

Sad to Be Done Knowing You

Three Poems by Katie Haley

zeroed out

Zeroed out on the soft ground in the house of a girl I used to know her parents weren’t home tonight to my right a boy above a pile of his own gag came stag after hearing about the party in class I’m not sure who most of the people here are except for the few I met in kindergarten those ones were opening capsules of molly to snort off the kitchen tiles matched with a new backsplash not hungover yet so get another drink down the two stairs to the freezer cold vodka and warm cranberry ocean spray stay leaned on the sink sipping try not to trip on the walk back to my spot on the couch where I wait for morning

new digs

At the front door of his new digs
i wait for the lock to turn
Got the invite last night which was a first
Him inviting me anywhere
Usually we just fuck on the counter at my offer
But today I got an invite to come over
Not to fuck but to look at the two bed in Bed-stuy
To watch his cowlick flick as he puts sheets on the new mattress
The door opens he’s wearing a towel and a t shirt
Took so long cause the shower muffled my knocks
I sit on the couch while he dresses in his room
The first thing he asks is which paintings should hang above the kitchen sink

the breakup

I hump the pillowcase I haven’t washed in a year
‘Cause it still smells like you
And that smell still turns me on

The bristles of the toothbrush have to be picked
out of my teeth
Swallowing some on accident 

It’s night and I lie on your side of the bed
With my back to that humped pillow
Sad to be done knowing you

Through the curtains comes a neighbors porch light
Fault of the fraying old fabric 
I stare at it ‘til late

Asleep I dream the same
Scraps of you on sidewalk I’m meant to pick up
And make whole again 

KATIE HALEY is a writer from California whose work can be read in/on Hobart, Expat Press, Vlad Mag and others. Follow her on Instagram @katiehaleyy for thirst traps and words.