twenty-twenty correctable

By Carmela Furio
Art by Cailin Hall

“i’m a negative four and a negative six,” i say and they both look at me and sigh and soon 
we’re comparing optical ailments, the thickness of our lenses and the blurs of our lives 
who can make out what and whose prescription is strongest and what even is legally blind and  

“i haven’t
been able to see
since i was three” 

she says and 
now it’s not who's worse but who’s got the most chance.
we’ve had fuzz in our vision since young

cottonpuffballs and halohazes and if i take off my glasses sometimes
i can't 
find words at the tips of my wingspan. 

this, life, hazed, blurred 
so much 
i cease