For some reason, his body
needs the proximity of my
body, and my body needs
the proximity of his body,
and here we are. Happy.
Four paws and two feet
and two hands. Heads
together.

---

Loria Harris is a Pushcart-nominated author whose works of poetry and fiction are published in Rogue Agent, Oyster River Pages, Winged Penny Review, Club Plum, JAKE, and others. Her poems have received the Alyson Dickerman Prize and the Jim Haba Award. Loria holds an MFA from Lindenwood University, where her fiction is nominated for the MFA in Writing Award and she currently serves as an adjunct instructor. Follow her on Instagram @looksbooksandloria, on Facebook @lorialeeharris, and on Bluesky @loriaharris.