Contrapuntal Opening with a Line from Millay

She is neither pink nor pale

She is neither grain nor bud

She is neither pillow nor feather

She is neither out nor outside
nor put out nor outstanding

—not side or siding—

—not mica or formica—

She is neither black nor gray
nor cirrus

She is neither stratus nor
cumulous

She is neither beach nor sand

She is neither nipple nor bottle

She is neither jump-rope nor jacks
nor even parcheesi

She is not Japanese or Japanese

Not single. Not binary. Not theoretical.

Yes, dialectical. Yes.

Notes: This piece is part of the Ruth Lilly Poetry Prize portfolio in the October 2023 issue.

Source: Poetry (October 2023)