Hi, so after a lot of reflection, I was able to narrow my focus. :) Please let me know what you think!
Reflection
I grew up in a tree house
The rich people’s version of roughing it
Because it was a whole ten minutes away
From four Michelin star restaurants.
In Los Gatos,
You can Spot Kids
Being Hood Rat Wannabes
Hats turned to an angle
Wearing the
BOU
TIQUE
Low
Ri-
Der
Skinny jeans
Blogger Moms
Afflicted with the
Rich B*tch Syndrome
Stepping in
Escalades and Louis Vuitton’s
Silences
Are shouting at one another…
Eyes quaking in a skull…
When they see you…
Their
Skin like receipt paper
Yours Freckled in
Numbers, decimals, and dollar signs
Ray Bans daintily placed
On the crown of your head,
Flash the Gucci watch
While grabbing the plastic…
Because Plastic buys Plastic…
American Express delivers a tight smile…
Pageant Queen wave…
Buys full lips
A small smirk…
Approved.
Don’t look in the mirrors,
Or Memory will come banging:
Power Flickering
Through your childhood home
Faucet’s leaking
One drop…
One drop of brown
Dripping,
Staining
The chipped porcelain sink
STOP.
Look straight ahead
Let the lit trees
On Main Street cushion your vision
Here every day is Christmas…
Don’t look in the mirrors,
Practice your swing,
Learn the language of
Fat, thin, slice, Chipping--
It’s the dialect only Suits speak…
Silences
Are shouting at one another…
Eyes quaking in a skull…
When they see you…
Their
Skin like receipt paper
Yours Freckled in
Numbers, decimals, and dollar signs
Stab the plastic tee in,
Take your swing,
Mmph!
Perfect pronunciation
With the green
Plastic buys Plastic
Par two earns a tight smile
An impressed handshake…
Buys Full lips
A small smirk…
Approved.
Don’t look in the mirror
Or you might catch a glimpse of
Stereotype…
A hole:
Your reflection in his eyes
And there’s the hole
To bury your
Aspirations
Wistfully watch
Dandelions escape
Your mouth:
I wish
I wish
I WISH….
STOP.
Wondering which skin to wear today
Pulling out hangers,
Trying Things on.
At Six,
Abuelita
Put your Schlubby Sweats on house arrest
You haven’t shaved, so no
Fuchsia Femme Fatale
Boot cut slacks and a button up, it is
Pondering
Between spoons of Cocoa Puffs
How they can have a glass of milk
Add a drop of chocolate
And still call it milk…
But they take a person
And black always defines them?
Stop.
Look in the mirror:
You’re beautiful.
Full lips try on a shy smile…
Approved.
I really like your revisions, but I would hope that you will take some of your old stuff, and make another poem about it. Part of me is so attached, but reading tbhis, it is like a whole other poem. Wow! I love it.
ReplyDeleteI know, I really like the frustration of the first piece too, but this just seemed more real, more me. The rest is definitely great material for another time! :)
DeleteI'm really glad you like it!
It's good to see people still posting! Ashley, this piece is so strong and raw in its honesty. Love it!
ReplyDeleteIt's good to see people still reading! :) I'm really glad you like it so much! I would love to read more of your work, Casey and I will still on here for a little while longer, so feel free to post! :)
Delete