Joy Yin

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suburbia

like wars, we are named
after where we take
place. i am the cul-de-sac,
watching the houses
multiply until our faces
feel prefabricated,
distributed like pensions.
the lawns stiffen,
and I cannot recall
the last time
the trees swayed
like trees ought to.
sprinklers tick through
the same small path.
the sidewalk curves
backwards before
we can decide
to leave.
there is nothing
left on the street.

Joy Yin is a writer based in Mexico City. Her work has appeared in BRAWL Lit, Milk Candy Review, Gone Lawn, Bending Genres, and more. She is also the founder and EIC of Lacuna Vox, a youth literary magazine. Joy is an alumna of the Sewanee Young Writers’ Conference.