To Her
Shelby Nesbitt
We spun our tires in the direction
Of that day trip idea that was collecting dust.
I extended my cold hand
To her warm, buttery palm,
And our fingers melted together.
I watched the greenery blur through the rearview mirror.
I froze in that fuzzy space.
Like when the TV is static,
And you learn to make peace with it.
I slowed as the car did,
Centering to the rearview again.
The trees were dimpled
And stale.
The grass muted
And trotted over.
Is this what it’s always looked like?
The trees weren’t reading like they used to.
The grass didn’t catch the sun as often,
And the flowers had aged.
I felt the first time
Our lips met and our bodies joined.
When I bathed in meadows
On hot desert summer nights.
When I was plump
And blooming.
What happened to me?
Hope coated the past,
And dread flaked onto this day–
The dread of losing that finite hope
Projected onto the trees.
So, I locked into her powdery eyes
Forgiving and pure
Like a shiny stream of fresh water
Resting in a battlefield
Seeds sprouted in her cornea
With delicate leaves
And velvet stems.
Anything could prosper in her care.
I’ll grow back because of her.
Jade Deming is a passionate artist whose work explores the depths of creativity through photography, painting, and drawing. She likes to capture moments and emotions in ways that inspire and engage audiences. Whether through the lens of a camera or the strokes of a brush, her art reflects an appreciation for the world around her. Constantly evolving and experimenting with new techniques, Jade continues to push her boundaries of artistic expression, making her mark in the world of visual arts.
Her piece “Up In Smoke” won the 2025 Vanguard Award, selected by the internationally acclaimed painter, Eric Fischl, as a part of the Eric Fischl Lecture Series at the Phoenix Art Museum. This portrait of her dad captures the raw emotional weight he carries. The red lighting is a reflection of the flames from the house fire they experienced in 2023. Both the cigarette and his home go “Up In Smoke”.
Check out her pages on Instagram @jadedeming and @jadedeyes.jpeg
Shelby Nesbitt is studying Creative Writing with a focus on nonfiction and poetry. She hopes to pursue further education in Chicago come Fall. When Shelby is not writing, she is most likely crocheting, collaging, shooting/developing film, hiking, or watching movies.
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