Alec Solomita has published fiction in the Southward Journal, The Mississippi Review, Southwest Review, and The Adirondack Review, among other publications. He was shortlisted by the Bridport Prize and Southword Journal, and named a finalist by the Noctua Review. His poetry has appeared in Algebra of Owls, The Lake, Literary Orphans, MockingHeart Review, Driftwood Press, and elsewhere. His poetry chapbook, “Do Not Forsake Me,” was published by Finishing Line Press in 2017. He lives in Somerville, Massachusetts, USA.

Dancer

A young woman dances alone
to “Fire on the Mountain”
in the Brewers Bar in Brattleboro.
In her floor-skimming dress
and waist-length hair,
she lifts her hands over her head
and moves in little half-circles
on the yeasty floor, humming loud
enough to herself so you hear her
over the music, and when she’s done,
the audience rises spontaneously
to its feet and bursts into tears.