Matthew Ussia is director of Duquesne University’s First Year Writing Program. His first book, The Red Glass Cat, was published by Alien Buddha Press in 2021.
Glendale Lake
Glendale Lake Summer neck deep on my birthdaydrowning has always been too easyno lifeguard on dutycold currents from the depthsstirred up by distant motorboatscan feel every inch of skinunderneath my clothesfor the next three days Autumn past-peak color on the hillsidesdogs rooting through leaveshoping to surprise a chipmunkthe promise of wintercould separate usfrom our sacred …