Give me your gentle mornings, 
your seashells, your palms. 

Lend me your wine-stained 
mouth. In the early light, speak softly. 

Tell me: Where’s your favorite mountain?
What shapes do you dream in

How old were you the first time 
you realized you’ll die? 

Were you scared then? 
And what scares you now? 

Give me your gentle mornings, 
your seashells, your palms. 

Anything you place 
in my hands, I will hold.

Jamie Avery (she / they) is a writer, editor, and plant parent living in Berkeley, California. In 2020, she graduated from San Francisco State University with a BA in Creative Writing. Her work can be found in Forum Magazine and Hey I’m Alive, and her digital avatar lives on Instagram at @jamiejacquelineavery.