Alexandra Bezdikian: berated

between my reflex and my resolve to solve the problems that are tearing us apart
is a crevice that divides who we both see ourselves to be from the inside out.
you see cracks unfortified in places i feel strong,
seeing narrow chasms on backs of orgasms that don't belong.

heaven and hell in moments of passion,
sweeping away all that is bad
with the coming of bodies fighting waves of malcontent crashing against sullied souls.

we hold each other taking away the pain of days apart
and try to remember the times when we would kiss and laugh without onslaught or doubt.
just us in love.


Alexandra Bezdikian won the 2010 Armenian Poetry Project writing competition in the "23 years and older" category.