Alec Solomita’s fiction has appeared in the Southwest Review, The Mississippi Review, Southword Journal, and The Drum (audio), among other publications. He was shortlisted by the Bridport Prize and Southword Journal. His poetry has appeared in The Ekphrastic Review, Gnashing Teeth Publishing, The Galway Review, Bold + Italic, Litbreak, Subterranean Blue Poetry, The Blue Nib, Red Dirt Forum, and elsewhere.  His chapbook, “Do Not Forsake Me,” was published in 2017 and is still available at Finishing Line Press and Amazon. His first full-length book of poetry was published last April by Kelsay Press. He’s working on another. He lives in Massachusetts.

First Love

My first real girl was a beauty.
Ninth grade. I stole her from
my best friend, or she stole me.
Sitting around the circular wall
in the one of the many leafy yards
in Cambridge. Longfellow Park.
On opposite sides and gazing
at each other, Larry next to Tia.
hadn’t a clue while
Tia and I were collecting them
like butterflies passing by.
Russet hair, hazel eyes,
fearless stare as if she
already knew I loved her.
A shocking breeze stole
Larry’s cap off into the sky.
As he ran to collect it, Tia and i
floated toward each other
across the circular wall.