Sorry I Didn't Call You Back — Split Lip Magazine

Because I was in the ER. Because I was bitten by [ ]. Because I almost died. Because I drowned in makgeolli one July. Because the hanbok didn’t fit. Because the ring fit too well. Because I had a fleshy growth on my right eye. Because I’m not scared of [ ]. Because I raised pet [ ] and still ate them. Because I’m slow to forgive. Because I love you. Because love does not exclude harm. Because I’m an omnivore. Because I’ve always been foolish. Because my bicuspids were too sharp. Because I adore the dark. Because of its vast ( ). Because I was afraid it was you ringing. Because I was afraid it wasn’t. Because I needed a doctor’s note. Because I never went to high school. Because I caught myself thinking. Because no one got past the ( ) of my name. Because a group of [ ] are called a ( ) but a group of [ ] are called a ( ). Because I had no reception. Because you had no reception. Because I’ve never been hungover. Because I’m a terrible liar. Because this drink tastes like kerosene. Because [ ] went extinct today. Because I saw a ( ) of falling stars. Because I didn’t remember and you promised you forgot. Because I’m trying to write in prose. Because I was lost in a ( ). Because Thursday was too long. Because I wanted you to be right here, next to me, and you weren’t.

Terms of Venery:

(Cauldron) of [Bats] / (Coalition) of [Cheetahs] /(Bask) of [Crocodiles] / (Exaltation) of [Larks] / (Shiver) of [Sharks] / (Knot) of [Snakes] / (Pledge) of [Wasps] / (Venue) of [Vultures] / (Descent) of [Woodpeckers] / (Tiding) of [Magpies] / (Harem) of [Axolotl] / (Murder) of [Crows] / (Unkindness) of [Ravens] / (Clutter) of [Cats] / (Bloom) of [Jellyfish] / (Brood) of [Chickens] / (Cluster) of [Spiders] / (Bed) of [Oysters] / (Tribe) of [Goats] / (Sounder) of [Boars]

Arah Ko (@arah_ko) is a writer from Hawai'i and the author of Brine Orchid (YesYes Books 2025) and the chapbook Animal Logic (Bull City Press 2025). Her work is published or forthcoming in American Poetry Review, Ninth Letter, The Threepenny Review, New Ohio Review, and elsewhere. Arah has been nominated for Best of Net and Best New Poets and received her M.F.A. in creative writing from the Ohio State University where she served on the staff of The Journal. Arah is currently on staff at Surging Tide Magazine. Catch her at arahko.com.